Letter received from Sergt. T. J. Lang, of Melton:

In the Desert. 

I have had splendid health since I have been out here. I saw "Horrie" before he went away to France, he was looking very fit, and had just gone into Camp at Ismailia, after a month out in the desert trenches. I am now with the Anzac Mounted Division, and the NZ Mounted Brigade. This Division is doing patrol work, in the north end of Sinai Peninsula. It is mostly very dreary - all sand, but here and there are small depressions, called "hods," and in some of them are date palm groves. We are, camped in one of them. Water can be obtained in most "hods" by sinking, but is mostly very brackish, and it is difficult to get the horses to drink it. Our drinking water has to be brought out on camels, so you may imagine we don't get too much. We had a heat wave last week -117 in the coolest hospital marquee; it crump led nearly everybody up. One of our regiments was out on a two day's reconnaissance, and about 100 were down with a touch of the sun. Camels with drinking water, and ambulance camels, had to be sent out to bring them home. It is a great sight to see the thousands of camels drifting along with their loads of supplies and water.

Our people have not had a brush with the enemy yet, but our Patrols have captured a few hostile Bedouins, and a few Turkish soldiers, probably spies or deserters. Our aeroplanes go out every day, and we had a visit from an enemy 'plane at 10 to 3 this morning, but nothing happened. It was bright moonlight, and it must have just discovered our Camp, as it circled over about three times. I believe it went on and bombed Port Said. I have to turn out of bed at a quarter past 3 in the morning, and stand to arms till sunrise, so one requires to get to bed fairly early. Write often as you can't imagine how a cheerful letter bucks a fellow up, and gives one something to think about.

SOLDIERS' LETTERS. (1916, July 15). The Bacchus Marsh Express (Vic. : 1866 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74270356

Courtesy of Christine Love.

SOLDIERS' LETTERS.    

Note from Sergt. T. J. Lang of Melton:        

Still under the Palms. In the Desert. - I am pleased to say that I am in the "pink" and hope to continue so, though I can see it is going a hard old thing with the hot weather and hard tucker. However, I feel very fit, so far. We have had some fairly cool days lately, at least not extra hot, but this morning the sun came out extra hot, and a "khanseen" sprung up - a hot desert wind, driving clouds of sand with it. The desert has not got a mark on it now, the thousands of tracks are absolutely obliterated, and one   would not think there had ever been a hoof in it. The insides of our tents are all "snowed up" with sand, and one has to dig one's blankets out of a sand heap, sand and flies in every thing. I suppose you have seen in the papers that our Brigade made a surprise attack on a Turkish outpost at Bir Sabman. They did very well under the circumstances, only two of the NZ were wounded, and that only slightly. There seems to be a general opinion that the Turks will make an attack on the Canal yet, and rumor hath it that  there is a high German General with the Turks at their present base. As a reprisal to the attack a German Taube appeared near our lines next morning, and dropped about 10 bombs, one of which landed in the Light Horse Camp, about a mile from us, and, a number of men and horses were killed. It was a very lucky shot, just, dropping between   the head of the horse lines and the officers' tents. The men were all standing to their horses ready to lead out, and got them in the worst possible position. We had a little more warning, and were able to get our horses off the lines and scatter in the desert. My horse was very excited, as the machine guns were rattling and rifles cracking all round us. It was quite exciting while it lasted. We got a rumor that the same machine was brought down next morning, at Port Said. We all hope it is true, but the Army is fed on rumors, so we believe things when we see that they are true. 

SOLDIERS' LETTERS. (1916, August 19). The Bacchus Marsh Express (Vic. : 1866 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74270510

Courtesy of Christine Love.

Roll of Honor unveiled at Melton State School, containing the names of old pupils: -J. Minns, Jas. McPherson, John McPherson, T. J. Lang, Horace Lang (w), William Dodemaide, William Whiteside (k), Frederick Coburn, Charles Moulsdale, R. Pratt (k), D. Pratt; S. Skinner, L. Norton (w), Norman Lang, T. O'Callaghan, S. O'Callaghan, J. O'Callaghan, William Black (k), S. Wilson, E. Carew, F. G. McNulty, W. Wade, A. Cantlon, J. Neal, F. Neal (w), K. Neal, J. Ryan (k), F. Ryan, C. Ryan, P. Williams, F. Chalmer, James Kinnersly, George Tyler (k), Albert Tyler, James Spring, Gordon Wilson, Henry Collins, Howard Wade, William Riddell, John Field, W. D. Keating, (w).

Quite a gloom was cast over Melton when it became known that   Thomas Lang son of Mr. T. Lang late head teacher of the Melton State school, had been killed in action. This being the second son lost at the war, deepest sympathy is felt for the parents.

MELTON. (1918, August 3). The Bacchus Marsh Express (Vic. : 1866 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74228292

Lieutenant Thomas John Lang, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lang, of 56 North street, Ascot Vale, is reported as having died in Egypt, on 17th July, from pneumonia, after 3 years, and 10 months' active service. He was a brother of the late Corporal Horace Lang, M.M.

ROLL OF HONOUR. (1918, August 1). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 1 Edition: Morning. Retrieved August 9, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74606756