Remembering Our WW1 Ancestors

WW1 family history in photographs, postcards and medals.

This website greatwar.co.uk is dedicated to more than 20 men in our family and extended family who served in the military during the Great War of 1914-1918.

These young men of the First World War generation were maternal and paternal fathers, uncles, cousins or brothers-in-law by marriage in the Hackett-Hodson, Parker-Degg, Deacon, and Pipe-Legg families.

Eleven Hackett Boys

Remembering. Private Cecil Hackett, 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, buried at Philosophe Military Cemetery, France.

A total of eleven young men in the Hackett family served in the British Army. Four were killed and are buried in France. Father and grandfather Arthur Hackett was one of five brothers who served in France. Arthur's eldest brother, David, had been a regular in the Worcestershire Regiment before the war and was deployed to France & Flanders in November 1914. He died of wounds sustained near Aubers in June 1915. A younger brother, Cecil, died of wounds on a trench raid almost exactly two years later in May 1917. Six of Arthur's cousins served, two of whom lost their lives on the Somme battlefield in 1916 in France.

Two Parker Brothers and a Brother-in-Law

Uncle Thomas Parker resigned as a policeman and enlisted in the Army in November 1915. He was killed almost a year to the day on the Somme battlefield in November 1916, just short by a few days of the drawing to a close of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Thomas' younger brother, Bill, joined the Royal Flying Corps under age sometime before April 1918 and served at home.

George Deacon, the husband of one of Thomas and Bill Parker's five sisters, served and survived the war. George's younger brother had enlisted at the age of 16 years and 2 months and served over a year before being discharged for being underage. Rejoining a reserve training battalion on his 18th birthday he died of pneumonia at home on 9^th November, just two days before the Armistice was declared on 11^th November 1918.

Two Devon Men in the Battle of Mons and the Retreat from Mons

The daughter of Private Arthur Pipe and a half-brother of Private Thomas Legg married after the First World War, joining these two families together.

Each of these two men went to war with the British Expeditionary Force as part of the deployment of the first British troops to France in August 1914. On 23^rd August Private Pipe was in action at the Battle of Mons, and on the following day, 24^th August, the British Army began the Retreat from Mons. Private Legg's battalion arrived to take part in the Battle of Le Cateau during this retreat but he was captured by the German Army. He spent the next four years of the war in a prisoner of war camp. Private Pipe went right through the four years of the war and survived.

HACKETT

Five sons of Arthur & Alice (née Trickett) Hackett of Shenstone, Staffordshire.

Private David Hackett (1891-1915)

Private David Hackett, 1 Bn Worcestershire Regiment.⁽¹⁾

1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, Service No. 11995

Service (no Service Record survives):

1911 census: Serving with 1st Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment at Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight aged 20
Enlisted in Birmingham
Posting in Egypt with the battalion when war broke out.
Arrived in France with the British Expeditionary Force on 5/11/14
Medal Index Card: 1914 Star/British War Medal/Victory Medal
Wounded in the area of Aubers in France.
Died of Wounds 19/06/15, aged 25.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery: Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France. Reference VIII.A.84

Gunner Arthur Hackett (1892-1957)

Gunner Arthur Hackett, Royal Garrison Artillery.

142nd (Durham) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, Service No. 338695

Service (no Service Record survives:)

Photographed in uniform in 1916.
Served in Germany into 1919.
Medal Index Card: British War Medal/Victory Medal

Private Anthony Hackett (1894-1959)

23rd Battalion (from 25/10/15); posted to 5th Battalion 20/2/17, Middlesex Regiment, Service No. 2167

Service Record (Pension Record survives):

Enlisted in Birmingham 2/5/15 (22 yrs 6 months)
Home Service 25/10/15 – 2/5/16
British Expeditionary Force 4/5/16-17/10/16
11/10/16 Gun shot wound to the elbow during the Battle of Bapaume (Somme)
Home from 19/10/16 to medical discharge 24/4/17
Medal Index Card: British War Medal/Victory Medal
Silver War Badge (17/6/17)

Private Cecil Hackett (1896-1917)

Private Cecil Hackett, 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters.⁽²⁾

2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), Service No. 31297

Service (no Service Record survives):

Enlisted in Lichfield
Medal Index Card: Victory Medal/British War Medal
Died of Wounds sustained in a trench raid north of Loos, 28/5/17 aged 20
Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery: Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France. Reference I.Q.11.

Private Percy Hackett (1897-1970)

Private Percy Hackett, South Staffordshire Regiment.⁽³⁾

2/5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, Service No. 202106

Service Record survives:

Enlisted February 1916, age 18 yrs 4 mths
Home Service 10/5/16 – 24/2/17, (Dublin July 1916)
British Expeditionary Force 25/2/17 – 20/2/18
France 7/3/18 – 17/9/19
Home Service 18/9/19 – 16/10/19
Medal Index Card: British War Medal/Victory Medal

HACKETT

British War Medal and Victory Medal, nicknamed “Mutt and Jeff” by WW1 Veterans.

Three nephews of Arthur Hackett (1830-1929). Sons of Joseph & Jane (née Richards) Hackett of Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

Sgt Joseph Richard Hackett (b. 1892)

2/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Service No. 203255 (formerly 148801)

Service Record survives:

Home Service 2/12/15 – 17/5/16, Home 18/5/16 – 11/10/16
British Expeditionary Force 12/10/16 – 12/10/19
Home 13/10/19 – 10/11/19
Reserve 1/3/20
Medal Index Card: British War Medal/Victory Medal
Mentioned in Despatches: London Gazette Sixth Supplement dated Tuesday 8^th July 1919

Acting Corporal Percy James Hackett (1894-1915)

11th Battalion, Princess Louise's (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders), Service No. S/6540

Service Record survives:

British Expeditionary Force 6/10/15 – 4/12/15
Died of Wounds 4/12/15, Artois, France
Medal Index Card: 15 Star/British War Medal/Victory Medal
Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery: Vermelles British Cemetery, France. Reference III.A.2.
Listed in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour

Private Albert Harry Hackett (b. 1896)

The Silver War Badge, issued from 12^th September 1916 to Servicemen who were discharged from the forces due to wounds or sickness as a result of their war service.

Army Service Corps, Service No. S4/065996

Service Record survives:

Home Service 8/2/15 – 2/12/15
British Expeditionary Force 3/12/15 – 8/2/16 and wounded.
Home 9/2/16 – 12/4/16.
Discharged due to wound 12/4/16.
Medal Index Card: 15 Star/British War Medal/Victory Medal
Silver War Badge

HACKETT

Bronze medallion plaque issued after the Great War to next of kin with a memorial scroll.

Sapper Albert Edwin Hackett

Cousin of Arthur Hackett (1860-1929). Son of John Hackett and Florence of Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

92nd Field Company, Royal Engineers, Service No. 49527

Service (no Service Record survives):

Enlisted in Stafford
British Expeditionary Force 28/7/15
Medal Index Card: 15 Star/British War Medal/Victory Medal
Killed in Action 2/7/16, aged 27
Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery: Carnoy Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Reference J.30.

Gunner Eric James Hackett (1893-1984)

Nephew of Arthur Hackett (1860-1929). Son of James and Catherine (née Allcott) Hackett of Walsall.

2/2nd South Midland Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Service No. 831404

Service Record survives:

Attested 19.10.15
Served in Salonica
Gravely ill, November 1918.
Medal Index Card: British War Medal/Victory Medal

Gunner Harold Victor Hackett

Nephew of Arthur Hackett (1860-1929). Son of James and Catherine (née Allcott) Hackett of Walsall.

Royal Field Artillery, No. 1557, and 846241

Wounded
Medal Index Card: British War Medal/Victory Medal
Silver War Badge

HODSON

Private William (Bill) Hodson (b. 1882)

Son of William and Alice Helena (née Taylor) Hodson of Elmhurst, Staffordshire.

Hampshire Regiment, Service No. 202850.

Known to have been wounded.
Medal Index Card: British War Medal/Victory Medal

Private Joseph Hodson (1884-1916)

Brother of William Hodson (1860-1940) and uncle of William (Bill) Hodson (b. 1882).

13th Battalion, Kings (Liverpool Regiment), Service No. 48727. Formerly North Staffordshire Regiment, Service No. 25927.

Killed in Action 15/10/16, aged 32
Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery: Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France. Reference I.C.23.
Married with 3 children.

PARKER

Corporal Thomas H Parker, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Two sons of Henry and Frances (née Upton) Parker of Rugeley, Staffordshire.

Acting Corporal Thomas Henry Parker (1890-1916)

2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Service No. 36892

Service Record survives:

Former territorial service with North Staffordshire Regiment, No. T958
Attested in Birmingham: 15/11/15, age 25 years 1 month. Trade: Policeman (Birmingham)
Appointed Acting Corporal 24/11/15
16/08/16: Embarked SS Archangel at Southampton. Disembarked Rouen on 17/08/16.
Joined 2nd Battalion RWF in the field in France in the Somme battle sector, 21/08/16.
Killed in Action: 6/11/16, aged 26.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery: London Road Cemetery, High Wood, Somme, France, I.A.1.
Medal Index Card: British War Medal/Victory Medal

William Arthur Parker

Royal Air Force, Service No. 199411

Enlisted 19 June 1918 aged 17 years 11 months
Electric fitter by trade
Transferred to Royal Air Force Reserve on 19/11/19

DEACON

Driver George Deacon (1897-1959)

Son-in-law of Henry and Frances Parker, married to their daughter Constance A Parker and sister of Cpl Thomas Parker and William (Bill) Parker.

Driver, Army Service Corps, Service No. T4/234693

Service/Pension record:

Attestation: 11/12/15 in Rugeley. Age 18 years 3 months. Trade: Coachman & Gardener
Served in Salonica from 3/1/17
Suffered from malaria in June 1918 and again in Sept 1919.
Discharged 3/1/20.
Medal Index Card: British War Medal/Victory Medal

Acting Corporal John Deacon (1899-1918)

Brother of George Deacon.

11th (Reserve) Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, Service No. 18297; 53rd YS (Young Soldier) Battalion Training Reserve, West Yorkshire Regiment, Service No. TR/5/88317

Service Record:

Attestation: 7/08/15. Age given as 19 years 4 months. Trade: Carter. (He was actually only 16 years and 2 months of age.)
Posted to 11th Battalion 22/06/16 which moved to Rugeley Camp on Cannock Chase as a Reserve Training Battalion.
Served to 20/09/16 when he was discharged for serving under military age.
Rejoined in July/August 1917 aged 18 years 1 month. Trade: Tanner
Served in the reserve with 53rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment.
Died of pneumonia: 9/11/18
Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone (United Kingdom): Buried in Colton, Staffordshire
Medal Index Card: British War Medal/Victory Medal

DEGG

Son of Alfred Joseph and Elizabeth (née Bostock) Degg of Rugeley, Staffordshire.

Alfred William Degg (b. 1898)

Royal Flying Corps 1917-Royal Air Force 1921, Service No. 63265

Embarked for France, October 1917 with the RFC, saw service with the Royal Air Force and remained overseas until discharge.

Enlisted 28/2/17
RFC Trade: Fitter (M.T.), Air Mechanic 2
RAF Trade: Fitter (M.T.), Air Mechanic 3

PIPE

The 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, nicknamed “Pip, Squeak and Wilfred” by WW1 Veterans.

Private Arthur F Pipe (b. 1894)

Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Service No. 8124; Devon Regiment, Service No. 19696; Hampshire Regiment, Service No. 28941

Date of arrival in France: 21/8/14
Medal Index Card: 1914 Star/British War Medal/Victory Medal

LEGG

Private Thomas John Legg (1892-1929)

1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, Service No. 9626

Date of arrival in France: 21/8/14
Prisoner of war August 1914 to 1919?
Medal Index Card: 1914 Star/British War Medal/Victory Medal; (Clasp & roses issued for service in 1914.)

Useful Links

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Acknowledgements

^{(1), (2)}Photographs of David and Cecil Hackett courtesy of Bob Hartley.

⁽³⁾ Photograph of Percy Hackett courtesy of Andrew Syk.

Photograph of Cecil Hackett's grave by Andy Irons.

Silver War Badge image courtesy of Martin Fore.

Remembering Our WW1 Ancestors

Eleven Hackett Boys

Two Parker Brothers and a Brother-in-Law

Two Devon Men in the Battle of Mons and the Retreat from Mons

HACKETT

Private David Hackett (1891-1915)

Gunner Arthur Hackett (1892-1957)

Private Anthony Hackett (1894-1959)

Private Cecil Hackett (1896-1917)

Private Percy Hackett (1897-1970)

HACKETT

Sgt Joseph Richard Hackett (b. 1892)

Acting Corporal Percy James Hackett (1894-1915)

Private Albert Harry Hackett (b. 1896)

HACKETT

Sapper Albert Edwin Hackett

Gunner Eric James Hackett (1893-1984)

Gunner Harold Victor Hackett

HODSON

Private William (Bill) Hodson (b. 1882)

Private Joseph Hodson (1884-1916)

PARKER

Acting Corporal Thomas Henry Parker (1890-1916)

William Arthur Parker

DEACON

Driver George Deacon (1897-1959)

Acting Corporal John Deacon (1899-1918)

DEGG

Alfred William Degg (b. 1898)

PIPE

Private Arthur F Pipe (b. 1894)

LEGG

Private Thomas John Legg (1892-1929)

Related Topics

Tracing World War 1 Family History

Useful Links

The National Archives, Kew, Surrey

Ancestry.co.uk

Findmypast.co.uk

Forces War Records

Photographs Forever: Photo Restoration and Photograph Retouching

Acknowledgements