Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill
Role in the Sharpe Novels
Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill is possibly Richard Sharpe's greatest Nemesis within the books. He appears first in Sharpe's Tiger but had been integral in Sharpe's life before that point. He also appears in Sharpe's Triumph and Sharpe's Fortress. He then leaves the army, but then reappears to plague Sharpe in Sharpe's Company and Sharpe's Enemy in which he meets his very timely end.
Character and Story
Born in 1769 to 'Bidy' Hakeswill, at 12 he was sentenced to be hanged, but did not die and was cut down by his uncle. Since that point in time he has considered himself a man who could not die.
He joined the army as a drummer boy soon after in 1781, and moved up the ranks. By 1793 he has the sergeant who was responsible for recruiting the Young Richard Sharpe into the 33rd Foot. Over the next six years he made Sharpe's life hell to the point where he was willing to desert just before the Siege of Seringatapam in 1799.
At this point he arranges for Sharpe to be sentenced to 2000 lashes over an argument over Mary Bicklestaff, and is disappointed when Private Sharpe's gets reprieve from his sentence and sent on a mission. He later crates problems for Sharpe and Colonel Lawford on the mission. After he gets captured by Indian troops.
He continues to clash with Sharpe through the indian camping and is responsible for the murders of Lt Fitzgerald and Colonel Hector McCandless. He also deserted to the enemy at Gawilghur to flee from a revengeful Sharpe, but claimed he had been captured after the Fortress had fallen to the British army. After the Indian campaign he was invalided out of the army in 1806
In 1808 he rejoined the South Essex, and joined the Battalion before the siege of Badajoz, he quickly tries to annoy Captain Sharpe by victimizing his riflemen, arranging a flogging for Sergeant Patrick Harper and attempting to rape his wife Teresa Monroe. In the siege itself Hakeswill tries to get to Teresa again, but is stopped by Captain Knowles who he is murder but not before Sharpe and Harper have arrived on the scene. Hakeswill then was left with no choice but to desert.
He is then next seen in northern portugal in 1812 as one of the leaders of a group of deserters which are attacked by Major Sharpe, he is captured, but breaks free and manages to Kill Teresa in the process. The french capture him 24 hours later and Sharpe blows his brains out after a firing squad fails to do it.
If you haven't already got the gist. This is a very bad man. A murder, a rapists, a bully and a thug. Bernard Cornwell wrote a charter who is completely despicable here.
Sharpe Books Featuring Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill
Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill appears in the following Sharpe books;
Sharpe's Tiger
Sharpe's Triumph
Sharpe's Fortress
Sharpe's Company
Sharpe's Enemy
In the TV series Sergeant hakeswill is played by Pete Postlethwaite .
Sharpe Books
Wise Words
"On no Hamlett was no Irishman, he was a fool"
- Captain Hogan
