Hasler's Scouts were formed in July 1901 from the 3rd Contingent New South Wales Imperial Bushmen and 2nd Contingent New South Wales Mounted Rifles, both of which were in Lieutenant Colonel Ingouville-Williams' column operating in the Western Transvaal. Williams appointed his staff officer Julian Hasler, a special service officer and on his staff, to command a group of scouts numbering about 30 who would act as the advance guard of his column. Was this a personal decision by Williams? Did Lord Methuen who was responsible for the peace and order in that area sanction it? Very little is known about them. They were cut up at Leeuwfontein on 28th July 1901 when they were ambushed. Hasler was wounded, a sergeant was killed and two troopers also wounded before reinforcements from the main column arrived to chase the Boers off. Thereafter little is known. What happened to Hasler? Wilcox thinks they still operated with Williams' column right till the end of the war but apart from a direct reference to being involved in the burning of Schweizer-Reneke and Wolmaransstad we do not hear of them again. Anyone got any scraps of information on them beyond that mentioned above?
I have read that there was an unofficial badge crafted; that's nothing new for many colonial units fashioned their own unofficial badges. But I would like to see it. Is there a roll? I have 18 names including Hasler taken from photos in the Australian War Memorial and from the Casualty Lists.
