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Auction: 22101 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 370

Four: Private J. Wackett, 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, killed during a V.C. action at the Battle of Hooge on 30 July 1915, the same occasion when 2nd Lieutenant Woodroffe was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross

1914-15 Star (S-974 Pte J. Wackett. Rif: Brig:); British War and Victory Medals (S-974 Pte. J. Wackett. Rif. Brig.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (John Wackett), in card envelope of issue, sometime cleaned, the Plaque neatly drilled for mounting at three and nine o'clock respectively, overall very fine (4)

John Wackett was born at St. Luke, London in 1890, the son of James and Emily Wackett. His father was working as a Police Detective in 1891 but by 1911 had retired, while Wackett himself was working in his older sister's Christmas card business as a Stationer. He enlisted with the 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade at St. Paul's Churchyard, Middlesex. He was present during the fighting at Hooge on 30 July 1915, when 2nd Lieutenant Sidney Woodroffe won his V.C., the citation reading:

'This officer's position was heavily attacked with bombs from the flank and subsequently from the rear, but he managed to defend his post until all his bombs were exhausted and then skilfully withdrew his remaining men'

Despite having being wounded to the face he later led a counter attack at the head of 'A' Company. Tragically this brave young Officer's luck ran out then and he was shot dead as he cut his way through the wire before the German lines. Wackett was killed in action here and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial; sold together with copied M.I.C., Commonwealth War Graves details and a newspaper article relating to the Woodroffe V.C., whose awards are held in the Lord Ashcroft Collection.

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Sold for
£160

Starting price
£130