reproduced with kind permission of Lt. Col Richard Devonshire
Thank you to Jane Anthony for this research. Thank you to the Hack Family for the photographs.
Photo courtesy of The Hack Family
Adrian Henry Hack was born in 1891, the third and youngest son of Sydney, a retired Civil Engineer, and his wife Ellen. The family lived at The Knoll in Holmwood, and took an active part in village life. Sydney Hack had already retired as a civil engineer by the age of 31. He entertained the local hunt and contributed towards local fire brigade fund. Adrian was educated at the Pilgrim School Sevenoaks and then from 1904 to 1909 at Bradfield College, Berkshire. At the time of the 1911 he was training to be a surveyor.
The 8th Battalion of the Kings Own Yorkshire Regiment was formed in Pontefract in September 1914. It was part of the 70th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Division. The obituary from Bradfield College states that Adrian Hack was a bombing officer. That means he would go forward of the British lines sending a small patrol 4 – 6 men at night and attack the German with hand grenades. The aim to capture a prisoner for information and to harass the Germans.
Hack – Killed in action, July 1st. Adrian Henry Hack, Lieutenant K. O. Yorkshire Light Infantry, third and youngest dearly loved son of Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Hack, The Knoll, Holmwood, aged 25.
LIEUT. A. H. HENRY
Lieut. Adrian Henry Hack, who was killed in action on July 1st, was the third and youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Hack, of Holmwood. He was born in 1890, and educated at Bradfield College, Berks, and was a member of the Bradfield O. T. C. and also a keen sportsman. He enlisted in September, 1914, in the 10th Royal Fusiliers, and his school training stood him in good stead for he was at once made Lance Corporal and shortly after Corporal, then Lance Corporal. He obtained his commission in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in January, 1915 with which battalion he went to France last August.
The following letter from his Commanding Officer has been received by his parents:-
“It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you that your son was killed in action on July 1st, gallantly leading his men in the attack. Your son’s services to the Battalion, both as Platoon Commander, and frequently as Grenadier Officer, during the period the Battalion has been in France, have been exceptionally great, and he will be very greatly missed.”
Adrian Hack Death Notice © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
Adrian Hack was killed in action, aged 25, of the first day of the Battle of the Somme. James Melville Babington was the 23rd Division Commander. The Battalion started the assault with 25 officers, the medical officer and 259 soldiers and that after they were relieved, only the medical officer and 110 soldiers reported back. Therefore the missing were either killed or wounded. This report was signed by a Captain who took over command of what was left of the Battalion.
He is buried at the Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille, The Cemetery was begun early in July 1916, at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, and used until the following November. At the Armistice it contained 212 graves but was then greatly enlarged when 784 graves were brought in from the battlefields and small cemeteries to the east. Most of these concentrated graves were of men who died on 1st July 1916. He is also commemorated on the South Holmwood memorial.
© Bradfield College
Thank you to Ian Whitlock for this picture of Adrian Hack’s original grave marker in a collection of them at Adrian’s old school.
| Lived | Holmwood | |
| Son of | Sydney and Ellen Hack of The Knoll, Holmwood | |
| Regiment | 8th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. | |
| Date of Death | 1st July 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Somme, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in action | |
| Age | 25 | |
| Cemetery | Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille Wood, France |
