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Langham-J-O-Pte-3050

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 7 years, 8 months ago

Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

Pte Langham at Broadmeadows, circa Sep 1915

Australian War Memorial Collection.

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/DA10961

Langham J O Pte 3050 Joseph Oswill 7 Inf Bn 28 Horsetrainer Single C of E

Address: [Melbourne]

Next of Kin: Humphries, N, Mrs, sister, Janet Rd, Grafton NSW

Enlisted: 13 Jul 1915

Embarked: RMS Osterley 29 Sep 1915

South Australian Information Bureau

Evans, Sgt. Killed in Action. 7th Btn.

Casualty was corporal when I left the Battalion in January 1917. He then expected another stripe. He was called "Pike". He was my greatest friend. He was quite alright when I left and wrote me several letters when I was in England in hospital. He was expecting to be granted furlough at the time. I heard on my return to Australia last Saturday Casualty was killed in action in April. My informant was Mrs Power of 4 Newtown Parade, Moonee Ponds. He came from Adelaide and enlisted in Victoria. His mother remarried. I would like to write to her and to be given her address. Casualty did not entrust me with any message or effects for his people. I know nothing about his property and am surprised that I should be asked about it. I did not give any information in Adelaide to the effect that I possessed any assets belonging to Casualty. I do not know how any such mistake can have been made.
Informant: J O Langham, no 3050, 7th Btn.
Private Address:
C/o G Jobson
Charles Street,
Ascot Vale

Casualty was called "Pike". I know him by no other name. I did not know what his real name was. He was a friend of mine. He was in B Company. He enlisted with me in Melbourne on the 30th April, 1915. He was a jockey. We met originally at Scobie's Stables. His Mother is his nearest of kin. She lives somewhere at Adelaide."

Private Address: (Previously given)
11th AGH, Caulfield

https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/packet-content/50167#https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/packet_images/2711/SRG76_1_2711_9.jpg

The spinal chair, donated by the Ascot Vale Bowling Club to Private Langham (Ascot Vale) will be presented on Thursday next at the club's rooms, Unley grove, at 3 o'clock. Members and friends cordially invited.

PATRIOTIC. (1918, December 19). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved June 17, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74607849

While on active service Pte Langham had suffered a gun shot wound to his left leg, close to his spine, trench feet, and pneumonia. While being returned to Australia for a change, he fell down an open hatch on the ship onto his back and suffered a severe contusion to his spine. One of the pages on his file notes "spinal paralysis", but it is not clear if this was permanent. The purchase of the chair for Pte Langham suggests that it was a very serious injury. During the 1930s and 1940s, Langham was recorded in Victorian Electoral Rolls with 'nil' for his occupation. Joseph married Eileen Laura Falks in Victoria in 1926.

Mentioned in Correspondence:

Maribyrnong-Bagotville Hill Welcome Home Committee correspondence

11 Jan 1918 Maribyrnong-Bagotville Hill Returned Soldiers Reception Committee, circular letter about a reception.
24 Jan 1918 Musical Presentation evening, Ascot Vale Picture Theatre
14 Feb 1918 Welcome Home to Maribyrnong-Bagotville Soldiers

Family Donate WW1 Award. Medal found in a Grafton House by builders. Daily Examiner, 28/3/2011.

South Australian Red Cross Information Bureau packet relating to Pyke Evans of the 7th Inf Bn.