Auction Catalogue

22 July 2015

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 506

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22 July 2015

Hammer Price:
£3,800

A fine Sea Gallantry Medal group of seven awarded to Leading Boatman A. Hasler, H.M. Coast Guard, Southwold, Suffolk for the rescue of the crew of the Norwegian barque Idun, 17 January 1912

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (Albert Haslar, ‘Idun” 17th January 1912); 1914-15 Star (143757 A. Hasler, P.O.1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (143757 A. Hasler, Act. C.P.O., R.N.); Naval L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (Albert Hasler, Boatman, Coast Guard); Marine Society Reward of Merit, silver, reverse inscribed, ‘Albert Hasler 18th February 1897’; Norway, Medal for Heroic Deeds, Haakon VII, 29mm., silver medal with crown, unnamed, all except first mounted for wear, note variation in spelling of surname, some edge bruising, good very fine and better (7) £800-1000

Albert Hasler/Haslar was born in West Ham, Essex on 3 November 1872. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 8 December 1887 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in January 1889. Hasler was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in November 1890 when on H.M.S. Calypso and to Able Seaman in November 1891 when on H.M.S. Anson. Promoted to Leading Seaman in March 1894 when on H.M.S. Egeria; to Petty Officer 2nd Class in November 1897 when on H.M.S. Cockatrice and Petty Officer 1st Class in November 1899 when at H.M.S. Pembroke. Transferred to the Coast Guard as Boatman in June 1901, he was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in September 1905. In the Coastguard he served at Withernsea, East Yorkshire and being advanced to Leading Boatman in April 1910 was transferred to Southwold, Suffolk in September 1911. On 17 January 1912 he helped in the rescue of the crew from the Norwegian barque Idun, of Christiansand, which had become stranded at Southwold.

‘.... The Rocket Life Saving Apparatus was at once taken to the scene of the casualty and communication with the ship was established with the fourth rocket. Four men were got safely ashore, but the fifth man fell out of the breeches buoy as he was being hauled ashore. Davis, Haslar and Gillings plunged into the sea, swam out to him, and succeeded in bringing him ashore in an exhausted condition. The remainder of the crew of nine hands were saved by the Rocket Apparatus. Davis, Haslar and Gillings incurred considerable risk in rendering these services, as a strong gale was blowing from the East South East, and there was a dangerous surf running at the time.’ (Ref.
The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scarlett).

Chief Officer Edward Davis and Leading Boatman Albert Heslar, H.M. Coast Guard and James Gillings, of the Life Saving Apparatus Company, Southwold, each received the Sea Gallantry Medal in bronze and £1. The medals were presented by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 1 July 1912. In addition, the three men were each awarded the Norwegian Medal for Heroic Deeds.

With the onset of the Great War, Hasler returned to the Royal Navy, serving for the most part on M.F.A.
Pekin, August 1915-May 1917, being advanced to Acting Chief Petty Officer in April 1917. In March 1918 he transferred to the Royal Air Force and served as Flight Sergeant/Chief Mechanic. With copied service papers and roll extract.