Captain John Henry Lyle HALLER
2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment

Date of birth: 21st December 1894
Date of death: 12th March 1915

Killed in action aged 20
Buried at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery Row Y Grave 7
John Henry Lyle Haller was born at 18, Park Village West, St Pancras in London on the 21st of December 1894 the elder son of John George Haller, a chemical merchant, and Agnes Mary (nee Watts) Haller of Langham House, 197, Albany St., Regent's Park in London. He was christened at St Mark's Church, Regent's Park on the 16th of January 1895.

He was educated at Merchant Taylors School from April 1907 to April 1910 and at Lancing College, where he was in News House from May 1910 to July 1911. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and while he was at the school he achieved a certificate for proficiency in life saving.

On leaving school he continued his education, studying science in France and Germany.
He intended a career in applied science and to that end he worked for some time at the laboratory of Dr Danysz at the Pasteur Institute, attending lectures as well as doing practical work in a manufacturing laboratory. While he was there he was awarded the Certificate of the Pasteur Institute.

Instead of pursuing a career in science he joined the army and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion East Surrey Regiment on the 11th of May 1912 and served for six months in Ireland with the 1st Battalion. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 3rd of May 1913 and joined the Special Reserve of Officers.

He was recalled to the army on the outbreak of war and joined the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of his regiment. He embarked for service in France on the 11th of September 1914 where he joined the 1st Battalion of his regiment in the field at Missy, along with seven other officers, on the 16th of September. He later transferred to the 2nd Battalion.

On the 12th of March 1915 the 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment was in trenches at Lindenhoek where an attack was to be made at 8.40am by 7th Brigade against enemy positions at Spanbroekmolen. Due to a heavy mist, the assault was delayed until 4.10pm. The 2nd East Surreys were to fire in support of the attack but when the attack began, many of the British supporting artillery fire fell short, killing and wounding a number of officers and men. John Haller was firing over the parapet at the enemy in support of the attack, when he was shot through the head and killed instantly. The attack was a failure.

Captain S.P. White of the East Surreys wrote:-

"I had known Lyle before the war and for a time he was my subaltern out here. I never had a better officer serving with me or a braver comrade. Soon after our 2nd Battalion came out, they had great losses in officers, and needing experienced officers to help them tide over their temporary difficulties, Lyle was ordered by name by the Corps Headquarters to be transferred. This Battalion lost a good officer then, and one of the cheeriest and best of companions, and now the regiment is the poorer."

Captain J.L. Le Fleming wrote:-

"Lieutenant Haller was shot through the head by a German bullet, whilst himself firing over the parapet at the Germans. His death was instantaneous. Lieutenant Haller had just been recommended by me for promotion to the rank of Captain and the letter was in my pocket book when he was shot. I valued his services immensely and in him I have lost a most gallant and competent officer. He was also my subaltern in the 1st Battalion in October last year. Lieutenant Haller was buried at Kemmel Churchyard in Belgium."

Lieutenant Gudon of the 2nd Battalion wrote:-

"I was within a few yards of your son when he died. He was killed about 4.20pm on March 12th whilst actually firing at a German from over the parapet. The exact place was about 120 yards south of Lindenhoek and about 150 yards N.E. of a hamlet called Sparnbrook."

The regimental history records that:-

"He was a very good officer and a man of talent".

He was gazetted as a Captain after his death on the 9th of April 1915 to rank from the 2nd of February. He was mentioned in Sir John French’s despatches of the 31st of May 1915 for gallantry in the field.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at Merchant Taylors School.

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