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Australia

Birth

Leslie Horrocks Haslam was born on the 15th April 1884 to William Haslam (M.L.C.) and Annie Jenkyns (nee Roach) at Norwood. He had three brothers and three sisters.

Schooling

Leslie attended Unley State School then moved to prince Alfred’s College. In 1997 he was in Third Form at PAC. He passed his Preliminary Examinations in 1899. In 1900 Leslie won the PAC Sports Medal for gymnastics and a prize for Music. In 1901 he competed in the Intercollegiate Gymnastics competition and in 1902 he played the pianoforte in the PAC Midwinter Concert. Later newspaper reports indicate that Leslie won the Long Jump at the PAC sports on two occasions. In 1902 Leslie passed his Senior Examinations in English Literature, Latin, Geometry & Chemistry. Leslie represented PAC in Intercollegiate Football matches in 1902. He was in the Cadet Corp from 1900-1902.

University

Leslie commenced studying for his Bachelor of Law at Adelaide University in 1903. Leslie degree was conferred in December 1908 and he was admitted to the Bar.

Football

Leslie played football for the Sturt Football Club. He was A grade player number 71 for Sturt, commencing his A grade career in Round 2 on the 14th May 1904. He played 58 senior games for Sturt from 1904 to 1908. In his book “We are Sturt Vol 1 (1901-1914) John Lysikatos described Haslam as follows “An outstanding junior, who was built like an “ox” and could play at either end of the ground when resting from ruck. In the forward lines he knew how to find goals while in defence he was the ideal defender as he gave opposing forwards a difficult time. Possessing great leadership qualities, the tireless worker was rewarded with the vice-captaincy in 1908, his final year at Unley.” Leslie played in the SA Football League “B team” v Broken Hill in July 1907. In addition to playing Leslie was also a member of the Sturt Football Club Committee for several years.

University Sport

Football

Leslie was selected to play for the University in 1904 for the very first Intervarsity match against Melbourne but was unable to play. He then went on to play Intervarsity Football in 1905, 1907, 1908 and 1910. Leslie also played in the 1904 Law v Arts/Science match and in University vs Combined Colleges (August 1904), vs Wesley College (1905) and vs Geelong College (1907). In 1908 Leslie represented the University in their attempt to join the SA Football League. Leslie was awarded a Football Blue in 1909.

Rifle

Leslie was a member of the Adelaide University Rifle Club while at University and in August 1909, he became Captain of the Club. A year later he hosted the Intervarsity Dinner on behalf of the Rifle Club. He was Captain of the Club in 1915 and a Vice President of the Club in 1940.

Other Interests

Leslie was a member of the Goodwood Literary and Debating Society by 1906 and regularly debated for the group and once represented the South Australian Union in an Interstate debate. Leslie was also a member of the literary society “Union Parliament” and became a member of their ‘ministry’ in 1909.

Leslie played tennis and (when available) regularly completed in the SA Lawn Tennis Carnival in the period from 1913 to 1924.

Early Career

Leslie “served his articles with Mr R.H. Lathleen and subsequently became a partner in the firm Homburg, Melrose and Homburg, solicitors on Adelaide, where he practiced until he enlisted for the war in January 1916.” He is pictured below in March 1915.

Leslie married Alice Irene Smith, the daughter of James Viner Smith, at the Congregational Church, Victor Harbor, SA on the 4th September 1916. They then lived at “Burwood”, High Street, Unley Park.

World War I

In January 1916 Leslie went to camp. He received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant on 1 October 1916 with the 32nd Battalion A.I.F. In March 1917 Lieut L.H Haslam was appointed prosecutor for a Standing District Court-martial for South Australia. Leslie embarked from Melbourne on the H.M.A.T. A38 “Ulysses” on 22nd December 1917. After spending some time in Egypt, he proceeded to Codford, England by May 1918.

On the 4th June 1918 he proceeded to France via Southampton. On the 8th July 1918 he was promoted to Lieutenant. On the 13th February 1919 Leslie proceeded to Publicity Department, Demobilisation and Repatriation Depot, London and returned to Australia 8 May 1919 onboard the Devanlia. Unbeknown to him, his troops gave him the nickname ‘Gertie’ as he was looked upon as a bit feminine to some of the troops. However, he was in the thick of the fighting and gained their respect and admiration …”and proved himself anything but a sis.” (L/Cpl Lance Coad).

Between the Wars

By the 24th July 1919 Leslie had returned to work and was welcomed back by Mr Commissioner Mitchell. In December 1919 he proposed the toast to Fallen Comrades at the 32nd Battalion Dinner. Leslie was appointed Stipendiary Magistrate for the Mount Gambier Court on 30th September 1920 (aged 35).

Having served for two years in Mt Gambier, Leslie was appointed a special and stipendiary magistrate in the Adelaide Police Court. During his time in Mt Gambier Leslie was appointed as a Returning Officer. He was succeeded at Mt Gambier by H.M. Muirhead (also a former Adelaide University Intervarsity Footballer). Leslie was elected a Vice President of the 32nd Battalion Club, was active in attending PAC Old Collegiate events and attended the Fromelles anniversary in July 1926,

In November 1926 (aged 41) he was appointed special and stipendiary magistrate of the Local Court department in succession to Judge Paine, he was also appointed a district member of the Licensing Court for the Midlands Licensing District. Leslie’s salary in 1926 was £800. In 1927 Leslie was Acting Judge in Insolvency during the absence of Judge Paine on leave.

Unfortunately, Leslie was in the newspapers for family reasons in October 1927, when his elderly mother became lost at Mt Lofty and a search (successful) had to be mounted to find her. This was followed in January 1928 by the tragic death of his nephew Frederick W.F. Home, who died (aged 18 years) following injuries received diving into four feet of water at the Victor Harbor baths. Frederick was a scholar at Scotch College and had just completed his Leaving Examinations. Leslie’s mother died in February 1929 (aged 77 years).

Leslie was a member of the Royal Adelaide Golf Club from at least 1925. In July 1931 he won the A grade monthly medal. His wife was also a keen and capable golfer. Leslie is pictured below in 1931 playing in and Old Collegiate competition and in 1933 in a Court and Bar Competition.

In 1932 Leslie was the Coroner. He was frequently in the role of Acting Judge when Judge Paine was on leave and from 1935 to 1948 he was permanently in the role of Acting Judge. He was eventually appointed to the role of Judge in 1948 when Judge Paine retired. Unfortunately, he only held the role of Judge for a brief period as he reached retirement age for Judges (65 years of age) on the 15th April 1949. Leslie continued as a S.M. in the Local Courts until at least 1954 (SA newspapers are not digitised beyond 31 December 1954).

World War II
Leslie enlisted as a Lieutenant on 26 March 1942 and was discharged on 31st August 1944. Prior to his enlistment he had been involved in supervising bomb practice for the A Company , 10B Battalion, No 2 Platoon in November 1941.

Family

Leslie and Alice’s daughter Anne attended Walford Anglican School for Girls passing her Leaving Honours Examinations in December 1940. She was a fine tennis player and talented musician. She gained her diploma in Social Science in from Adelaide University in March 1947, having completed at least part of her studies at Sydney University in 1946. In 1948 she was almoner at the Perth Children’s Hospital. In 1953 Anne travelled to the UK and was almoner at the Queen Charlotte Hospital then in 1954 she was in charge of a medical clinic in East End. Anne married Mr Reginald George Bluff, of Four Marks, Hampshire, England in the Hinde Street Methodist Church, Manchester Square, London on the 9th October 1954.

Death

Leslie died on the 23rd of July 1960, aged 76 years. Prior to his death he had been resident at Unley Park. Alice died on the 8th May 1965.