The AIF Project

Reginald James HACKETT

Regimental number81
Place of birthMorpeth, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationDealer
AddressWest Maitland, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 5.5"
Weight126 lbs
Next of kinAdopted Mother, Miss Annie Soorley, Cohen Street, Horse Shoe Bend, West Maitland, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed in the 14th Infantry, Citizen Military Forces; still serving at time of AIF enlistment.
Enlistment date15 February 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll5 February 1916
Place of enlistmentMaitland, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name34th Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/51/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 2 May 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll34th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 20 December 1917
Discharge date9 August 1918
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 2 May 1916; disembarked Plymouth, 23 June 1916.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 15 October 1916; discharged, 19 December 1916; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 66 days.

Proceeded overseas to France, 30 December 1916; rejoined 34th Bn, in the field, 5 January 1917.

Admitted to 10th Field Ambulance, 28 January 1917; transferred to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, 30 January 1917 (gonorrhoea); to No 1 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 31 January 1917; to 51st General Hospital, Etaples, 31 January 1917; marched in to 3rd Australian Divisional Base Depot, 29 April 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 92 days.

Rejoined 34th Bn, in the field, 8 May 1917.

Wounded in action, Messines, Belgium, 7 June 1917 (gun shot wound, right arm), admitted to 9th Field Ambulance, and transferred same day to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station; to 4th General Hospital, Camiers, 9 June 1917 (arm amputated); to England, 20 June 1917, and admitted to Norfolk War Hospital, Norwich, 21 June 1917 (further amputation of arm). Transferred to No 2 Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, 27 October 1917; discharged to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 24 October 1917.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Runic', 20 December 1917; disembarked Melbourne, 13 February 1918, for overland travel to Sydney; discharged (medically unfit), 9 August 1918.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Committed suicide (shooting), 17 September 1918.

Originally denied burial in consecrated ground; following the deputy coroner's finding of temporary insanity, the Bishop of Maitland permitted reburial in the Catholic portion of the West Maitland Cemetery.
Miscellaneous detailsAdopted mother's name incorrectly recorded on Embarkation Roll as Annir SOOLEY.
Date of death17 September 1918
Age at death23
Place of burialWest Maitland Cemetery, New South Wales
SourcesNAA: B2455, HACKETT Reginald James
'Maitland Mercury', 19 September 2008.

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