Joe Tilson Lang collection

Photograph album relating to the training and graduation of Captain William Lang, Duntroon Military College, Canberra, 1914.

Large format home-made album of images relating to the first World War in Gallipoli 1915, France and Belgium 1916-1918, India 1917-1918 and in reserve camp, Darwin, Northern Territory 1935.

Large format home-made album of images relating to Joe Lang's work as an engineer, in particular the Story Bridge, Brisbane, Mt Morgan ore treatment plant, Gypsum works, South Australia.

Large format home-made album of images relating to the service of Lieutenant Colonel Joe Lang during the second World War. It includes photographs taken at Puckapunyal, Victoria; Western Australia and during service in New Guinea.

Photographic postcard of YMCA Football Team, 1913, featuring Joe Lang, 2nd from left, 2nd bottom row.

Mounted photograph of Duntroon Military College cricket team, 1st XI. William Lang is standing centre, back row.

Mounted print of Corporal Joe Lang, 1st Infantry Battalion, AIF, 1915

Field Ambulance, the Middle East during the first World War.

William Lang during his training at Duntroon Military College, 1914.

Joe Lang, outside residential bungalow shared with another officer during his time in India in 1919.

Jack Garrett, Joe & Roy Lang sailing on Sydney Harbour.

Joe Lang and others rowing surfboats, Manly Beach, NSW.

Joe Lang among the crews rowing surfboats, Manly Beach, NSW.

Chief Engineer's residence, Batchelor, NT during Joe Lang's time working on the installation of the oil tanks, Darwin.

View of one of the large steel tanks showing the agitators; a section of the Mt Morgan treatment plant.

View taken during the erection of cyanide plant, Mt Morgan. "These are steel thickener tanks. This snap gives a bit of an idea of the difficult nature of the ground. The drums in foreground are full of round iron balls to put into the ball mill." Mt Morgan gold treatment plant.

View of the new cyanide treatment plant, Mt Morgan. The original envelope is included.

Notes on rear of image: "The hill had to be excavated before any work began, all the buildings except those on the flat in the foreground belong to the new plant. The tank on the hilltop is a concrete one. In addition to what you see here there is an earth dam & a concrete one up the gully. The dark part is where the two sets of three steel tanks are will conveyors on top. There are also two small steel tanks by the building at the foot of hill on the right."

Group portrait of members of the 2/97th Rajputs, Agra, India 1918. Captain Joe Lang, third row, third from right.

After being promoted Captain in 1917, Joe Lang transferred to the British Indian Army.

The 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry, commonly shortened to 2nd Rajputs, was a regiment of the British Indian Army with an origin in 1798 and amalgamated with five other Rajput regiments in 1922.

There are two copies of the image.

Kathleen Lang, Mt Barker, "off to work".

Joe and Kathleen Lang, "Brookbank", Western Australia.

Rodney Lang, London Christmas 1950.

Son of Joe and Kathleen Lang, (1931-1996) later Commander, Royal Australian Navy.

2/2nd Pioneer Battalion on parade, Kapooka, New South Wales, September 1942.

Lieutenant Colonel Joe Lang, 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion, New Guinea.

Lieutenant Colonel Joe Lang, 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion, outside camp hut, New Guinea.

Joe Lang, then Captain, Recovery Section, Field Engineers, Army Field Workshops.

Lieutenant William (Bill) Tilney, 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion pictured with his family.

Large format portrait of Kathleen and Joe Tilson on their wedding day, Ceduna, WA.

Mounted image of construction workers on the Story Bridge, Brisbane, c.1939

Certificate of graduation issued to William Lang, specially commissioned from the 2nd Class (1914) for service with the Australian Imperial Force from the Royal Military College of Australia, Duntroon.

Triangular purple felt pennant with two pairs of ties on the hoist. Printed in yellow and red with 'Pioneers' and the 'Rising Sun' Australian Commonwealth Military Forces badge. These pennants were produced as patriotic souvenirs for the Australian home front.

The pennant is accompanied by a bar of 'Christy' soap, supposedly kept with the pennant by the family to prevent damage by moths.

White/grey canvas cylindrical kit bag with draw string closure. Marked with "Q.X.6067 Lt. Col. Lang" and "Richard Lang". Associated with the service of Joe Lang during the Second World War.

British Gurkha kukri dagger and leather scabbard, souvenired by Joe Lang while serving in the Middle East during the Second World War.

The item is very fragile; the blade is in two pieces.

Small hinged box kept by the Lang family containing, badges, buttons and military insignia relating to the service of William and Joe Lang during the First World War.

Items include: 
1. Royal Military College Duntroon, hat or collar badge. It carries the college motto "Doctrina vim promovet" [Learning Promotes Strength] 
2. British military uniform button, featuring the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.
3. Enamel sweetheart brooch in the form of a colour patch. Produced on silver, the rectangular brooch is separately coloured blue and red diagonally, the rear fastener is missing.
4. Brass military insignia in the form of the Roman numerals XCVII [97]. Most likely the insignia worn by Joe Lang whilst serving with the 2/97th Battalion of the Indian Army, in Egypt, 1918.
5. Brass military insignia, no. 39 probably the property of Joe Lang, who was a Sergeant with the Garrison Artillery, Georges Heights, NSW, Area 39a in 1912.

Small hinged box containing brass identification medallion belonging to Joe Lang, worn whilst serving with the Garrison Artillery, Area 39A, NSW in 1912.

Small hinged box containing two medallions belonging to Joe Lang which relate to boxing events.

Items include:
1. I.S.B.A. Championships, May 1918 [International Services Boxing Association] Heavy weight Officers - runner up, awarded to Lieut. J.T. Lang, 97th Infantry, Indian Army.
2. Egyptian Expeditionary Force Championship 1919. Boxing Officers, Catch weight winner.

Small hinged box containing a cast bronze commemorative medallion and a lapel badge, issued to surviving members of the AIF who served on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It also includes a note produced on issue which states "In commemoration of the heroic deeds of the men of Anzac at Gallipoli in 1915 and in recognition of the great debt owed by all Australians."

The medallion depicts Simpson and his donkey carrying wounded to safety, the reverse shows a map of Australia & New Zealand imposed over the Southern Cross constellation.

Carved timber box containing service medals, ribbons and bars relating to the service of Captain William Lang and Lieutenant Colonel Joe Lang in the First and Second World Wars.

Items include:
1. British War Medal
2. Victory Medal
3. 1914-1915 Star - all issued to Captain William Lang
4. Blank leather identification tag
5. WW1 Ribbon bar with oak leaf for Mention in Despatches.
6. WW2 Ribbon bar with oak leaf for Mention in Despatches.
7. Ribbon bar representing an O.B.E., Military Medal and 1914-1914 star.
8. Ribbon bar representing the serviced of Lieut. Colonel Lang in both World Wars, his O.B.E. and Military Medal.

Silver trinket case, awarded to Joe Tilson Lang for his participation in the Cadet Sports 2nd H.W. Boxing Tour, 1912.

1 folded sheet, 14 pages "presenting ... facsimiles of the more generally seen ribbons of British decorations and medals awarded between 1900 and 1942"

Commemorative booklet published to mark the occasion of the opening of the Story Bridge, 6 July 1940.

Reprint of paper presented before the Engineering Institute of Canada, 1930.

Aerial photograph of Lae area, New Guinea, showing views of paratroop activities, 1943.

1. Paratroops in various stages of descent; fighter cover; Huon Gulf & Lae.
2. Paratroops jumping near Nadzab.
3. Parachutes on ground near Nadzab.

Litho no. 663.

Aerial photograph of Lae area, New Guinea, showing views of paratroop activities, 1943.

1. Smoke screen , Nadzab; fighter cover; Markham River; Sarawaged Mountains.
2. Paratroops jumping near Nadzab.
3. Paratroops descending Nadzab; smoke screen; fighter cover; Markham River; Atzera Range; Saruwaged Range.

Litho no. 664.

Aerial photographs of Lae area, New Guinea, showing views of the Allied landing in Buso River, 1943.

1. Landing craft at Buso River beach, Lae in the distance, looking west.
2. Landing at Buso River Beach, looking east.
3. Activities at Buso River.

Litho no. 665.

Aerial photographs of Lae area, New Guinea, showing views of Bridging Markham River, 1943.

1. Kirkland's Dump at Kunai Spur; Markham River.
2. Men with collapsible boats; bridge planking; Erap River.
3. Pontoon bridge across Markham River, Erap River; Kirkland's Dump.

Litho no. 665.

Postcard sent by Joe Lang to his mother while on active service in Egypt. 

He writes: "Dear mother, will send news if possible. I am sending a few post cards in case you do not get my letter and I hope you will not worry about me too much as we are leaving for the front tomorrow morning and if I don't come back I would like you to know that I would rather go that way than any other - but hope for your sake that I come out all right. Joe." [at top] "I think that you will hear of our lot as they are as keen as mustard."

Memorial card issued to commemorate the death of Captain William Lang, 6th Light Horse Regiment, Machine Gun Section. Wounded at Gallipoli, he died on the hospital ship "Guildford Castle", aged 22 years.

Postcard sent by Joe Lang to his mother.

He writes: "I am still staying with Mr & Mrs Laird at Larne Harbour, Belfast, & and am having a grand time. I played golf with Mrs Laird all day yesterday it is a first rate game. This card shows the place where I am staying, it is marked with a cross. Joe."

Letter to Nessie [Agnes] Adey, Renmark, SA from her uncle Les Adey who was serving in France during the first World War. He describes the fighting taking place in cornfields, they are working at night digging trenches.

Letter to Joe Lang, Aldershot from Major Ronald Davies, Bristol. He congratulates Lang on his recent boxing tournament and recommends him to Captain Fletcher of the 97th Infantry, Indian Army. 

Greeting card from Joe Lang while serving in New Guinea during the Second World War, to his family in Australia.