Charles Edwin Hackett

Private Charles Edwin Hackett, attested on 10th July 1915 at Calgary Alberta, Canada standing 5' 8" tall. He served with the 50th Canadian Infantry Battalion, was killed in action 10th April 1917. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial.

The 50th Battalion (Calgary), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. It recruited in and was mobilized at Calgary, Alberta The 50th Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 27 October 1915. The battalion disembarked in France on 11 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. In October 1916, the battalion was ordered to Ancre Heights the scene of Canada's first involvement in the Battle of the Somme which ultimately resulted in 25,000 Canadian casualties. Later, the 50th was ordered into the fighting and during the battle, the 50th Battalion's non-commissioned officers (NCOs) suffered heavily. Positioned in the second wave, they were killed by hidden German machine-gun posts that had been bypassed by the initial assault. From the Somme, the battalion was moved northward to Artois in November 1916, where they spent their winter and Christmas preparing for the offensive against Vimy Ridge. From January to March, the 4th Division's artillery provided part of the pre-battle barrage. In April, the Canadians made their three-day offensive, starting the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The 50th Battalion, with the 4th Division was attacking from the north of the ridge and were facing the 16th Bavarian Jäger Division and the 79th Reserve Division. The 50th Battalion and the rest of the 4th Canadian Division were assigned to attack Hill 145. After many attempts to capture the hill, they finally managed to take it from the Bavarian Reserve force. For the next two days, the 4th Canadian Division and 50th Battalion tried to attack the little knoll known as the Pimple. Finally, the Bavarians, low on food and having suffered many casualties, surrendered the Pimple and retreated from Vimy. The 50th, having suffered heavy casualties, were taken out of the line and rested for a while. (Wikipedia) In memoriam published 10th April 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HACKETT. – In loving memory of Charles Edwin Hackett, killed in action April 10th, 1917. – From loving wife and children, Sydney, Flora, and Freddy.” Above in memoriam is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918