Kenneth Hackett

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Northampton branch

Died: 2 February 1945

Kenneth Arthur Hackett, known to his colleagues as Ken, was born on 30 June 1910, the son of Charles Arthur and Gertrude Maud Hackett. He was educated at Llanfyllin County School and joined the staff of National Provincial Bank straight from school as a probationer in October 1927 at Dursley branch. He was promoted to clerk in January 1930. Later that year he married Bridget in Cheltenham. They would go on to have three children. In his spare time he was a keen golfer and fisherman.

In July 1940 Hackett left his job in the bank's Northampton branch, where he had been based since 1937, to go on war service. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, becoming a special duty clerk. He then volunteered for aircrew, trained as a navigator and was commissioned in 1943. He was initially posted for special duties, in which he reached the rank of Flight Lieutenant, but he wanted to fly on operations and was eventually posted to Mosquitos of the Second Tactical Air Force as Flying Officer. On 2 February 1945, whilst taking part in his second tour of operations, Flying Officer Hackett was killed during a raid on Berlin. He was 34 years old and left a widow, Bridget, and their three children. In his obituary in the bank's staff magazine, he is remembered for 'his kindliness of thought and charm of manner'.