A RARE & SUPERBLY WELL DOCUMENTED, Three Clasp “WITTERBERGEN” Q.S.A./ K.S.A. PAIR.

To.
2886. Pte-Sgt (14 Year Old Drummer Boy) Sgt. R.J.L. HASLER.
2nd KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY.

[INTRODUCTION TO A MIRACULOUSLY COMPLETE & UNIQUELY WELL DOCUMENTED GROUP]

When we saw this assembly, we were totally astonished by the quality, condition and completeness of the original papers which are an exceptional & probably unique assembly.

[LIST OF 12 RARE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS & INCLUDED PAPERS]
“The first five are on parchment”












a) Certificate of Discharge. Army Form B.128
b) Certificate of Character. Army Form B.2077
c) Discharge Certificate (Territorial). Army Form E.51









d) Certificate of Sergeants Qualifications. Army C.2111
e) Certificate of Corporals Qualifications. Army C.2111
f) Certificate of Army Education (2nd class) Army C.309

g) Commanding officers references (2) on army paper.
h) Battalion orders showing leave permission.
i) Presentation of Medals by G.O.C. KOYLI .
















j) Final Military School Report Card 1888. R.M. Asylum Form 8
k) Certificate storage, Blue card &linen wallet. Army Form A.14















l) Soldiers Account Book W.O. Form 267 (56 pages, card cover)

This young drummer boy Robert Haslar clearly kept totally intact just about everything he was ever given by the army from 1888 to 1902, and by a sheer miracle of further care and survival this amazing documentary time capsule has come down to us totally intact over the 92 years since Robert’s death in 1923.

[BIOGRAPHY] Robert J.L. HASLER 1874-1923
Robert Joseph Loder HASLER was born in MURREE HILLS, BENGAL, INDIA (“Rawalpindi-Kashmire ”) on 11th September 1874. His father John Walter HASLER was then serving in India as a Colour Sergeant in 70th Foot Regt. At some time after Robert’s birth, his mother Ann, died.

It then eventually became necessary to see to Robert’s schooling and education, so at the age of 11 he was sent to England to attend the famous Royal Military Asylum School at Chelsea. This School was a well established Military Educational Establishment which looked after and educated the boys of serving soldiers who had either been orphaned or had lost one parent. He joined the school on 30th January 1885 age 11.

It is presumed that as his father John was a senior NCO in KOYLI that he would be posted back to England with his son at this time. Young Robert is then seen at age 14 receiving what was clearly his final school report card (item.j) from the R.M. school on 11th September 1888.

[INTO THE ARMY] ....”Into his father’s footsteps”
On 16th December 1888 and having left the Military School, Robert is seen joining the KOYLI at London as a Corporal with three good conduct badges.He was just 4ft 10”tall, aged 14 with a fair complexion and blue eyes. He joined 2/KOYLI as a little drummer boy.

Robert’s father had clearly by this time remarried and is seen living at *50 Gayville Road , Broomswood Road, New Wandsworth, London, SW. with his second wife, a Mrs H. Hasler,(declared as Robert’s stepmother) and another son, W. E. Hasler. (*address still extant).

Robert served the colours for 13 years 290 days of which 13 years 56 days were service abroad. He was finally discharged from the army at Pontefract, Yorkshire (declared age of 27) on 30th October 1902 with his two medals and a 2nd Class Education Certificate.

Being at this time 5ft 9” tall he had gained 11” inches in height while in the army.

In 1903 at the declared age of 29 Robert is seen marrying Elizabeth Mary Foreman (24) at Streatham Parish church. His marital address at this time was *54 Sydney Road, Merton. (*Address still extant). He was then working as a Porter at the local Royal Mail collection office. He is later seen living at *91 Sandmere Road, Brixton.(*Address still extant).

He is then seen on 3rd April 1908 joining the Territorial Army as 155, Rifleman R.J.L. HASLER. 11th Bn City of London (Post Office Rifles). Robert served for the agreed period of 5 years with his final military discharge taking place on 2nd April 1913.

Sixteen months later and at the declaration of WW1 in August 1914 Robert was 40 and clearly well over age for further immediate military service, so almost certainly continued to work as a postman during WW1.

[SUMMARY]
One cannot help feeling a pang of sorrow for the early life of this poor little 14 year old Drummer Boy who lost his mum when he was just a little nipper......who was then thrust into the stiff regime of a military boarding school.
But such were the early beginnings of many of our finest soldiers of the Victorian age who fought and protected the greatest Empire the world has ever known.....and upon which the sun never set.

Robert sadly died in 1927 aged just 53......and clearly never wore his medals which are still in practically Mint state.

A totally unique, astonishing and museum quality “time capsule” assembly of what is perhaps the most complete & comprehensive collection of original velum & parchment service documents and soldiers book with discharge papers we have ever seen.

If you are a serious collector of K.O.Y.L.I medals....this IS for YOU !

A Truly Rare, Probably Unique and Totally Unrepeatable Grouping.

£895