Hasler Leonard Melsome Lieut

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Surname: Hasler;

Forename(s): Leonard Melsome;

Initials: LM;

Rank: Lieut;

Born in: Great Dunmow;

Resided in: Dunmow, Essex;

Previous Regiment: Essex Regt;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 117 Coy;

How killed: DOW;

Where: Belgium;

When killed: 21-Sep-1917;

Awarded: MC;

Gallantry Notes: MC:For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He brought his eight machine guns into action with great rapidity and brought them forward to assist in the capture of a further objective. His battery came under heavy shell fire, losing one team, but owing to his coolness, he got all his guns into action in the time laid down. Later, he did excellent work with four more guns taken over from another battery.;

Other Data: photograph (in group) on: www.ww1photos.com/MGC.html
MC (unnamed, with various paperwork) offered by Lawrences of Crewkerne, Apr'10
MC,pair, related paperwork, scroll, photograph offered Semley Auctioneers Apr '14

CV: Son of William and Margaret Walker Hasler, of The Croft, Dunmow, Essex. Hockey XI 1913-14. Running VIII. WWI: Disembarked 10 Aug 1916; Lt 2nd Bn Essex Rgt, attached 17th M.G.C. Despatches. He met his death in action at the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge while serving with No 117 Brigade Machine Gun Company, in the 39th Div, Essex Rgt, during 3rd battle of Ypres, Sep 21 1917. MC awarded for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He brought his 8 machine guns into action with great rapidity, and moved them forward to assist in the capture of a further objective. His battery came under heavy shell fire, losing one team, but, owing to his coolness, he got all his guns into action in the time laid down. Later, he did excellent work with four more guns taken over from another battery. He is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Grave IV. F. 27, Poperinge, Belgium. Also remembered on the Gt Dunmow War Memorial and in Great Dunmow (St. Mary) Churchyard. The Hasler family were a very influential local family - William Hasler, chairman of the Parish Council for Great Dunmow, was present at the meetings for the War Memorial. His brother also was awarded the MC and survived the war. Remembered at Great Dunmow war memorial.
Obit: Tall, almost gaunt, with shoulders inclined to stoop, with lips that were reluctant to speak and eyes that affected sleep, L M Hasler had a will of his own and thoughts of his own and a determination that did more than secure him his running colours for three successive years. He came in May 1910 and in four years taught us to trust his sound and upright common-sense, and then in April 1914 he left from the Engineering VI, a House Prefect and a Hockey Colour of two years' standing. The war and the front brought out latent powers; he filled out in physique and confidence and our last picture of him is on leave, interesting the hotel smoking-room with the thoughts that experience had matured. Hardly had he returned to France when news came of the award of a Military Cross and then, in too quick sequence, of his death in action on Sept 21st. He had long been attached from the Essex Regt to the Machine Gun Corps. There can be no better judge of him than the Sergeant who had been under him since he joined his Company: "A better gentleman I never met. He was always so brave, gallant and daring. I went over the top with him when he won his MC and his coolness and daring put confidence into all."

(His name is also on the Great Dunmow War memorial.)
DH:
Leonard Melsome Hasler MC

Lieutenant, Essex Regiment

Military Cross, 1914 Star, British War Medal Victory Medal Mentioned in Despatches

Leonard Melsome Hasler was born in January 1896 in Great Dunmow. Felsted School, May 1910-April 1914. Hockey XI, 1913-1914. Running VIII.

He was commissioned into 5 Battalion, The Essex Regiment on 2 July 1915. He saw active service in France and Flanders .from 10 August 1916. He then served with 2nd Battalion, The Essex Regiment, and was then attached to 117th Company, Machine Gun Corps. Mentioned in Despatches. Awarded the Military Cross in 1917. He was killed in Action in France on 21 September 1917, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The London Gazette of 7 March 1918 had the following citation for "2nd Lt. (T./Lt.) Leonard Melsome Haslar, Essex R., Spec. Res., attd. M.G. Corps" (the surname is mispelt):

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He brought his eight machine guns into action with great rapidity, and moved them forward to assist in the capture of a further objective. His battery came under heavy shell fire, losing one team, but, owing to his coolness, he got all his guns into action in the time laid down. Later, he did excellent work with four more guns taken over from another battery.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Hasler, of The Croft, Dunmow, Essex. His father was the chairman of the Dunmow parish council. His brother, David Charles Hasler, served as a Major in the 11th Battalion, The Essex Regiment. He was wounded twice in the war and was also awarded the MC and mentioned in dispatches.

He is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Grave IV. F. 27, Poperinge, West Flanders, Belgium. Also remembered on the Great Dunmow War Memorial and in Great Dunmow (St. Mary) Churchyard.

His Military Cross came up for sale on 8 April 2010 at Lawrences Auctioneers (Crewkerne).
(From Felsted School Register) PHOTOGRAPH (GS Archives);

Other Notes: HASLER, Lieutenant, LEONARD MELSOME, MC, Essex Regiment attd. 117th Coy. Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action 21st September 1917. Age 21. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Hasler, of The Croft, Dunmow, Essex. IV. F. 27. Reninghelst New Military Cemetery - Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
MC: LG 18/10/1917 (LG 7/3/1918) Essex Regt attd MGC (HASLAR);

END OF RECORD.

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