George Furner Langley
Encyclopedia
Brigadier George Furner Langley DSO
(1891—1971) was an Australia
n soldier and teacher.
Langley was born on 1 May 1891 in Port Melbourne. He gained a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Melbourne
and teaching qualifications
from Melbourne Teachers' College and taught at Williamstown High School
, then at the Mansfield Agricultural High School in Mansfield, Victoria
until the outbreak of the first World War
.
Langley enlisted as a private in the 21st Battalion
and was commissioned as a lieutenant on 24 March 1915. After service in the Gallipoli Campaign, he was seconded to the Imperial Camel Corps
. In the Sinai and Palestine Campaign
Langley was an officer of the 14th Light Horse Regiment
. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Order
for "skilful leadership and conspicuous gallantry", and was mentioned in dispatches
three times.
On his return to Australia, Langley was appointed headmaster of Mansfield Agricultural High School
in 1920. In 1924 he became headmaster of Warrnanbool High School, a position he held for sixteen years. In 1940 he was transferred to Bendigo High School. Langley was headmaster at Mordialloc High School
in 1946 and 1947, and was headmaster at Box Hill High School
in 1948. From 1949 he was headmaster at Melbourne High School
for eight years.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(1891—1971) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n soldier and teacher.
Langley was born on 1 May 1891 in Port Melbourne. He gained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and teaching qualifications
Diploma of Education
The Diploma of Education, often abbreviated to DipEd or GradDipEd, is a postgraduate qualification offered in many Commonwealth countries including Australia, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom...
from Melbourne Teachers' College and taught at Williamstown High School
Williamstown High School
Williamstown High School is a four-year public high school located in Williamstown, in Monroe Township, located in Gloucester County, New Jersey, operating as part of the Monroe Township Public Schools....
, then at the Mansfield Agricultural High School in Mansfield, Victoria
Mansfield, Victoria
Mansfield is a small town in the foothills of the Victorian part of the Australian Alps. It is approximately 180 km north-east of Melbourne...
until the outbreak of the first World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Langley enlisted as a private in the 21st Battalion
21st Battalion (Australia)
The 21st Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was raised in 1915 as part of the First Australian Imperial Force for service during World War I and formed part of the 6th Brigade, attached to the 2nd Division. It fought during the Gallipoli campaign and on the Western Front...
and was commissioned as a lieutenant on 24 March 1915. After service in the Gallipoli Campaign, he was seconded to the Imperial Camel Corps
Imperial Camel Corps
The Imperial Camel Corps was a brigade-sized military formation which fought for the Allies in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign in World War I. Its personnel were infantry mounted on camels for movement across desert....
. In the Sinai and Palestine Campaign
Sinai and Palestine Campaign
The Sinai and Palestine Campaigns took place in the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I. A series of battles were fought between British Empire, German Empire and Ottoman Empire forces from 26 January 1915 to 31 October 1918, when the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Ottoman Empire and...
Langley was an officer of the 14th Light Horse Regiment
14th Light Horse Regiment
The 14th Light Horse Regiment was a mounted infantry or light horse unit of the Australian Army. The unit takes its lineage from units raised as part of the colonial forces of the state of Queensland in 1860 and served during the Second Boer War and World War I...
. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
for "skilful leadership and conspicuous gallantry", and was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
three times.
On his return to Australia, Langley was appointed headmaster of Mansfield Agricultural High School
Mansfield, Victoria
Mansfield is a small town in the foothills of the Victorian part of the Australian Alps. It is approximately 180 km north-east of Melbourne...
in 1920. In 1924 he became headmaster of Warrnanbool High School, a position he held for sixteen years. In 1940 he was transferred to Bendigo High School. Langley was headmaster at Mordialloc High School
Mordialloc Secondary College
Mordialloc Secondary College or Mordialloc College is a state co-educational secondary school located in the suburbs of Melbourne at Aspendale, City of Kingston, on the south bank of the Mordialloc Creek....
in 1946 and 1947, and was headmaster at Box Hill High School
Box Hill High School
Box Hill High School is a co-educational public secondary school located on the corner of Middleborough and Whitehorse Roads in the eastern suburb of Box Hill in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in 1948. From 1949 he was headmaster at Melbourne High School
Melbourne High School
Melbourne High School is a selective entry state school for boys in years 9 to 12 located in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra. Being a selective school, it is known mainly for its strong academic reputation...
for eight years.