Name
Alfred Ashley Haseldine
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
1453
Army Service Corps
Motor Transport
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Alfred Haseldine was born in the summer of 1882 at Hitcham, near Taplow in Buckinghamshire. On 2nd August 1905 he married Margaret Ashley at Eton, and on 19th February 1908 a daughter, Monica Mahalah, was born to the couple at Abbots Langley.
By the time of the 1911 Census the family lived at 2 Laurel Villas, Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley, and Alfred was listed working as a Hospital Nurse, employed by the Metropolitan Asylum Board.
He was first identified in the “Back to the Front” research in a report published in the Hertfordshire Advertiser newspaper on 23rd January 1915, where he was listed in the Hertfordshire Roll of Honour. Alfred’s Service Record noted that he had attested, and undertook a medical at Chancery Lane, London on 26th November 1914. He had good vision and a good physical development. At the time he was living at “Woodbine”, Horseshoe Lane, Garston. In April 1915 he was serving with the Kent Cyclist Battalion, with the rank of Lance Corporal, and undertook another medical on 21st July 1915, at New Romsey.
He remained with the Kent Cyclists at various locations along the south coast of England for the next two years. On 6th June 1917, whilst at Folkestone, he was reprimanded for over-staying his leave. Instead of returning at 12.00pm on the 5th June he returned from leave at 2.10pm on 6th June.
On 17th July 1917 Alfred was promoted to the rank of Paid Acting Corporal, but later in the month, on 31st July he was admitted to Shorncliffe Military Hospital suffering with a haematoma (swelling filled with blood) on the left hip. The blood was sent for examination but no infection was found and Alfred returned to his unit on 11th August 1917.
He continued to serve with the Kent Cyclist Battalion through to the end of the War, but on 10th December 1918 he was compulsorily and permanently transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps Motor Transport (RASCMT). On 16th January 1919 Alfred was sent to the RASCMT Dispersal Unit at Kelsey Manor, Sydenham, and was demobilised to “Woodbine”, Horseshoe Lane, Garston on 13th February 1919.
Additional Information
Formerly Kent Cyclist Battalion
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
