He was married to Alice née Tooby who received the medal on his behalf, and left two children, Arthur and Mary W. Hackett.

After being rejected three times by the York and Lancaster Regiment for being too old, Hackett enlisted in the British Army on 25 October 1915, despite having been diagnosed with a heart condition.

He was 43 years old and a Sapper in British Army during the First World War when he performed a deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross on 22 June/23 June 1916 at Shaftesbury Avenue Mine, near Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée, France.

Hackett died in an attempt to help fellow miners when a tunnel collapsed at Shaftesbury Avenue Mine on 26 June 1916.

Finally, the gallery collapsed, and though the rescue party worked desperately for four days the attempt to reach the two men failed.