Arthur Haslen

Arthur Haslen was the son of William Haslen and Elizabeth H. Haslen (nee Livermore), and was born in 1893 in Great Leighs.

In 1891 the Haslen family were living in Bocking, Braintree:
William Haslen, age 41.
Elizabeth Haslen, age 28.
Lillie Haslen, age 9.
Ernest W. Haslen, age 8.
Florence Haslen, age 6.
Gertrude Haslen, age 4.
Samuel Haslen, age 1.

After 1891 the family moved to Great Leighs where Arthur was born. Between 1893 and 1897 the family had moved to Tan House Lane, Navestock, where Elizabeth died aged 36.

By 1901 the older children had left home and William and the two youngest boys were living at Navestock:
William Haslen, age 51, occupation: general Labourer, born: Little Dunmow.
Samuel Haslen, age 11, born Briantree.
Arthur Haslen, age 8, born Great Leighs.

William died in 1905 when Arthur was age 12.

In 1911 Arthur Haslen was a living with his Uncle and Aunt, Thomas and Christiana Radley (née Livermore), at Banister Green, Felstead. The census records Arthur as being aged 18, a Machine Worker at an Iron Works (probably the Foundry in Rayne) and that he was born at Great Leighs.

Arthur first went to France on 31st May 1915, having enlisted with the Essex Regiment as Private Soldier 12135. He was part of the 9th (Service) Battalion which was formed at Warley in August 1914 as part of K1 and attached to the 35th Brigade in the 12th (Eastern) Division. The battalion formed at Shorncliffe and in March 1915 went to Blenheim Barracks at Aldershot before leaving for the Front.

The Honour Roll in the Essex Weekly news of 4th August 1916 listed "Haslen, Cpl. A. Felsted" amongst the members of the Essex Regiment wounded in action.

In the last quarter of 1917 Arthur married Mabel Crowfoot in the Bosmere registration district of Suffolk.

Arthur recovered from his wounds and later transferred to the Suffolk regiment probably around March 1918 as Lance Corporal 42454.

At the time of his death Arthur was serving as a Corporal in the 12th Battalion the Suffolk Regiment.

He died of wounds on 12th April 1918, aged 25. He is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial.