David Henry Lang

[jbiscuit]

Thats some more clues in the pot!

The 1st Bn were in Woking in 1936, which is just east of Aldershot and close enough. They were still in that area in 1939. What was the uncles name? you will need to apply for that birth certificate…Again there may be detail on there.

My uncles name was also David Henry Lang just to muddy the waters! It sounds like there is a bit of flesh on the bones then, but I'll take your guidance and try and somehow turn up his service number.
He had a daughter, Margaret, around that time too so maybe that will help put a pattern together to establish his movements.

[ivor43]

Hi all.
Looking on 1881 census

http://www.ukcensusonline.com/search...range=0&page=1

Page 2

James Lang born 1878 age 3 Scholar was born in Preston. Lancs. But there are a large number of Lang's in Blackburn.

an interesting entry on the same page.

James Lang. 10 Scholar & weaver Cotton Mill. Mill Hill. Lancs.



ivor.

[Baconwallah]

try contacting the custodian of the RWF Archives: Dr Kevin Mason - Bodelwyddan Castle

Please note that the archive has been moved to Wrexham and is now being installed in Wrexham Museum. The person to contact is Karen Murdoch (Karen.Murdoch@wrexham.gov.uk).

Information requests to the RWF Museum have a waiting list of at least a year. And as both the library and archive have been moved to locations elsewhere, I think that in the current situation any information request to the Museum will be a futile exercise anyway.

John

[Baconwallah]

I have his father as James Lang born 1878

Ancestry lists the parents as James Lang (01 Dec 1878, 81 Greaves Street, Accrington) and Annie Hilton (01 Sep 1879, 78 Whalley Banks, Blackburn).

John

[jbiscuit]

Some progress today although still haven't turned up the elusive service number. I've managed to get hold of his Birth, marriage and death certificates.

Birth: Confirmed on 1st June 1906 in Blackburn where his name is given just as Henry.

Marriage: 6th April 1935 in Wrexham with name given as just Henry again. His rank/profession is given as 'Corporal Royal Welch Fusiliers' and his residence as 'Barracks Wrexham'.

Death: 19th July 1958 (age incorrectly given as 51) with name given now as David Henry Lang and cause of death from a long winded Lung condition. However his occupation is given as 'War Pensioner'.

From speaking to my dad about it and what he recalls of my mum talking about him, he thinks he may have been a Sergeant at some point and picked up the condition that caused his eventual illness in service. He also recalled my uncle talking about his father coming home when he was aged 9 (he was born in 1936) and not recognising him as he hadn't seen him for 2 years. Partially from this and largely from his status on his death certificate it points to quite a long period of service including WW2. Quite frustrating that despite quite a bit of family tree delving done in the past, nothing has been recorded of his service record!

[ap1]

Good stuff, helps build the picture.

We already think he was a 1st Bn man. They deployed to France as part of the BEF in 1939. If you search the forum using the word "Dunkirk" you will find quite a bit of detail. Only a couple of 100 men made it back from the beaches of Dunkirk, most of the battalion was either killed or captured. The survivors then remained in the UK, getting retrained and refitted until 1942. They then deployed to the Far East, fighting the Japanese in India and Burma, including the bloody battles of Donbaik and Kohima. Most of the men returned towards the end of 1945/early 46.