OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 5 June 1913, Page 57

OBITUARY

MR. THOMAS R. HACKETT, WELLINGTON. Mr. Thomas Reynolds Hackett, who saw service in the Crimea, died at. his residence in Broadway terrace recently. ' The deceased (writes our Wellington correspondent) was born in Ireland in 1837, and enlisted in the 57th Regiment, ‘ Diehards,’ in 1851, in which he served for over 14 years. He took part in all the stirring events of the Crimean war of 1854, including Balaclava, Inkerman, and the - bombardment and fall of Sebastopol, also the expedition which resulted in the bombardment and capture of Kinburn. After the surrender of Sebastopol he proceeded with his regiment to Malta, and later on to India, where he was on service from 1858 to 1861. In 1861 he came to New Zealand with his regiment and took part in the various incidents of the Maori war in and about the Taranaki district. On the completion of his term of service he retired with the rank of sergeant. Subsequently he joined the Armed Constabulary, and became sergeant-major of his division, attaining promotion later on to the position of sub-inspector with the rank of captain, a position which he held till he retired on the reduction of that force. While in the Armed Constabulary he took part in several engagements with the Natives on the West Coast of the North Island, and also on the East Coast in pursuit of the noted rebel Te Kooti. After leaving the force he settled down in Wellington, and joined the Post and Telegraph Department as batteryman, a position he occupied up to the date of his retirement on March 31. The deceased was well known to the congregation of St. Joseph’s Church, and was a devout Catholic. The interment was a private one. A widow, two —members of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of St. Vincent de Paul Society,—and one son mourn the loss of a loving husband and fond father, and to them is extended the sincerest sympathy of a large circle of friends.R.l.P.