Main CPGW Record
Surname: HACKSTON
Forename(s): Thomas
Place of Birth: Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire
Service No: 265701
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 1/6th Battalion
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: 29
Date of Death: 1918-04-30
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 82 to 85.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: STEETON-WITH-EASTBURN, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Thomas Hackston was the son of William and Sarah Ann Hackston, née Clough. William was born at Newton Heath, Manchester, Lancashire and Sarah at Glusburn, Yorkshire.
1891 Salford, Lancashire Census: 28, Back Roman Road - Thomas Hackston, aged 2 years, born Bradford, Yorkshire, son of William and Sarah Ann Hackston.
1901 Salford, Lancashire Census: 14, Back Roman Road - Thomas Hackston, aged 12 years, born Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire, son of William and Sarah Ann Hackston.
1911 Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire Census: 25, Gordon Street - Thomas Hackston, aged 22 years, born Sutton-in-Craven, son of Sarah Ann Hackston, widow.
Thomas was married to Elsie Dickinson in 1915.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Thomas Hackston, 2708, 265701, W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 29.6.15. K. in A. 30.4.18.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Thomas Hackston, 265701, 1/6 W. Rid. R. K. in A. 30.4.18.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Thomas Hackston, 265701, 1/6th Bn W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: 30.4.18. Belgium. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow and Administratrix - Elsie. £20 9s. 3d. War Gratuity: Widow and Grantee - Elsie. £17 0s. 0d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Thomas. Name(s) on card(s): Widow: Elsie, born 3.2.89. Address: Springfield Lodge, Sutton-in-Craven, Crosshills, Nr Keighley.
The 1921 Census shows that Elsie, aged 32 years, 4 months, born Steeton, Yorkshire was living with her mother, Elizabeth Ann Dickinson at Springfield Lodge, Crosshills, Yorkshire. The 1939 Register shows that Elsie, her husband Fred and her mother Elizabeth were living at 44, Smiths Avenue, Huddersfield, Yorkshire. Elsie died in 1972.
See also: ‘Guiseley Terriers: A Small Part in The Great War – A History of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment’ by Stephen Barber (2018).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
HACKSTON, Tom, [Sutton], aged 29, West Riding Regiment, killed in action May 1, 1918.
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Private Thomas HACKSTON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
View Additional Image(s)
Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Group of soldiers at Strensall Camp, near York, circa 1915
Willie Hargreaves is on the back row with a towel over his shoulder. Twin brothers Willie and Thomas Hackston are kneeling in the middle row, Willie is on the far left, followed by Thomas
Courtesy of Mr and Mrs Robinson (née Jones) and kindly supplied by Paul Wilkinson of the Sutton-in-Craven village website (www.sutton-in-craven.org.uk)
Tyne Cot Memorial
Courtesy of Allan Hartley, High Bentham
St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven
Family gravestone
Courtesy of Josie Walsh of ‘Craven Indexes’ website
St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven
Family gravestone - detail of memorial inscription
Courtesy of Josie Walsh of ‘Craven Indexes’ website
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
11 June 1915
SUTTON – ‘Khaki’ Wedding
At St. Thomas Church on Saturday afternoon a ‘khaki’ wedding was solemnized by the Rev. A. Armstrong, curate-in-charge. The parties were Pte. Thomas Hackston, of the 6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, now stationed at Thoresby Park and twin son of Mrs. Hackston, Gordon Street, Sutton-in-Craven, and Miss Elsie Dickinson, only daughter of Mrs. Dickinson, of Springfield Lodge, Sutton-in-Craven. The bride was attended by Miss Isabel Hackston, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Ethel Summerskill, niece of the bride, and was given away by her brother, Mr. Thomas P. Dickinson. In the absence of Private Wm. Hackston, twin brother, who is also serving in the same regiment, Mr.Edward J. Parker, cousin of the bridegroom, acted as ‘best man.’
10 May 1918
Private Tom Hackston, Sutton
Private Tom Hackston, Lewis Gunner, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, son of Mrs. Hackston, Gordon Street, Sutton, has paid the supreme sacrifice. He had been at the Front since April, 1915, and had previously been gassed.
17 May 1918
SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN – Tribute to Private T. Hackston
Captain T. Coulthurst, in a letter to Mrs. Tom Hackston, of Springfield Lodge, Sutton, says:– “I think you will have heard the very sad news and know by now that your husband has laid down his life for his country. I know this is a very terrible blow to you, and I am indeed sorry for you. Please accept my deepest sympathy. Your husband was killed instantaneously; a shell burst in the trench where he was, and a large piece passed right through his body. We all mourn his death; he was always such a splendid soldier, and a great favourite with all his comrades. It is hard for us to lose such splendid men when we need them so badly.”
A memorial service to Private Hackston was held in St. Thomas’s Church, Sutton, on Sunday evening, when the vicar (Rev. A. R. Light) made a very moving and sympathetic reference to his loss and mentioned that he had been closely associated with the work at St. Thomas’ Church and Sunday School.
13 June 1919
SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN – In Memory of a Soldier
The widow of Pte. Thomas Hackston, along with his mother, sister and brother (Mr. W. Hackston) are presenting to St. Thomas’s Church Sutton, a red chalice veil and burse which is being worked by the Warham Guild (London), in memory of Pte. Hackston. In thanking the donors, the Vicar (Rev. A. R. Light) in the ‘Parish Record’ says it is touchingly appropriate that the red veil and burse, which will be used on all festivals for martyrs, as well as at Whitsuntide, is in memory of one who laid down his life that others might live.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
17 May 1918
HACKSTON – Killed in action May 1st, Pte. Tom Hackston, West Riding Regiment, of Sutton Mill, aged 29.
17 May 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Sutton Mill Soldier’s Death
Another promising young man in connection with the village of Sutton Mill has been called upon to make the supreme sacrifice. Pte. Tom Hackston, West Riding Regiment, along with his twin brother, Pte. Wales Hackston. joined the forces in October, 1914,land they went out together in April, 1915, and the greater part of the time have been together. The family just received news of his death from his brother, telling them that he was killed and buried on May 1st. Mrs. T. Hackston, the widow, for whom great sympathy is felt, has received a letter of sympathy from Captain T. Coulthurst, who pays a tribute to the character of the deceased and tells her that he was killed instantaneously, a shell bursting in the trench and a large piece passing through his body. On Sunday the Rev. A R. Light (vicar) made special reference he death of Pte. Tom Hackston, a personal friend of the vicar’s, and a willing worker in connection with St. Thomas’ Sunday School. The service was very largely attended, and the organist (Mr. A.E. Foulds) played ‘O rest in the Lord,’ and Chopin’s ‘Funeral March’ to the memory of all who have laid down their lives from the parish. A spray of lilies was laid on the Roll of Honour by the widow with a card bearing the inscription “In proud and loving memory of my dear husband.” Prior to entering the forces he was employed in the designing office at the firm of T. and M. Bairstow. Much sympathy is also felt for the widowed mother, who is at present lying seriously ill overcome with brief by her great lose. The deceased was in his 30th year.
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