William Lang

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 07/12/2015 - 15:10

First Name:

William

Last Name:

Lang

Date of Birth:

Friday, March 2, 1877

Date Enlisted:

Sunday, December 12, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

1st Battalion

Company:

C Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, May 25, 1917

Place of Death:

Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

William Lang (Service No 5146) was a single 38 year old miner who enlisted at Thirroul when he joined the Waratah March. He embarked on SS Makarini with 16th Reinforcements, 1st Battalion on 1st April 1916.

He arrived in Egypt on 2nd May 1916 and went on to France where he joined C Company, 1st Battalion on 18th June 1916. On 25th July 1916 while fighting on the Somme, he was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital in France for treatment to a gun shot wound to his face. He rejoined his unit on 26th August 1916.

He saw service on the Western Front until he was killed in action in Belgium on 27th September 1916. He is buried in Bedford House Cemetery Enclosure Plot I, Row U, Grave 2 Zillebeke Belgium.

William Lang named an Aunty in Victoria as his next of kin but authorities were unable to locate her. There are a number of letters on file from a Mrs Hobbs who advised some of his story, saying he has no parents or siblings living and was unable to read or write. The photo of his grave which sent to the Aunty was returned and is on his file.

Sources:

NAA: 2455, LANG WILLIAM