George Furner Langley

Early life

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^[1] and taught at Williamstown High School, then at the Mansfield Agricultural High School in Mansfield, Victoria until the outbreak of the First World War.^[1]

Military career

First World War

Langley enlisted as a

On his return to Australia, Langley was appointed headmaster of Mansfield Agricultural High School in 1920. In 1924 he became headmaster of Warrnambool High School, a position he held for sixteen years. In 1940 he was transferred to Bendigo High School. He had remained in the Australian Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel, and in this capacity had commanded various light horse regiments.^[1]

Second World War

In September 1940, Langley was made commander of 38th Battalion and then in 1942, was promoted to a temporary brigadier. Appointed commander of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, he oversaw the brigade, largely made up of militia conscripts, during its service in Western Australia and then from August 1943, in Darwin. Unfit for active duty, he eventually retired as an honorary brigadier in March 1944.^[1]

Later life

After service in England and the Middle East with the

References

• Bean, C. E. W. (1941). Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Volume II – The Story of ANZAC from 4 May 1915, to the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Sydney, Australia: Angus and Robertson Limited.
• Hammett, A.W (1983). "Langley, George Furner (1891–1971)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University.