Berkshire Memorial,Ploegsteert.

A revisit to the Berkshire memorial at Ploegsteert on beautiful early May evening. the main purpose of the visit was to pay respects to Sapper William Hackett VC of the Royal Engineers. His London Gazette citation for the Victoria Cross award reads: "For most conspicuous bravery when entombed with four others in a gallery owing to the explosion of an enemy mine. After working for twenty hours a hole was made through the fallen earth and broken timber, and the outside party was met. Sapper Hackett helped three of them through the hole and could easily have followed, but refused to leave the fourth, who had been seriously injured, saying, 'I am a tunneller and must look after the others first'. Meantime the hole was getting smaller, yet he still refused to leave his injured comrade. Finally the gallery collapsed, and though the rescue party worked desperately for four days, the attempt to reach the two men failed. Sapper Hackett, well knowing the nature of sliding earth, and the chances against him, deliberately gave his life for his comrade. (London Gazette: 5 August 1916)