Military Career of WR Lang

This is a list of all the references to to William Robert Lang in the NZ Gazette

4/3/15 | GAZ 33 | 11th (North Auckland) Mounted Rifles |

Sergeant Major William Robert Lang to be 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) supernumerary to establishment  dated  11th February 1915

#5 20th JAN 1916 | H.E. the G has been pleased to approve of the following appointments of Officers to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (9th Reinforcements) with the ranks specified, and with effect from 1st January 1916

Mounted Rifles

2nd Lieutenant William Robert Lang 11th (North Auckland) Mounted Rifles

From N.Z. Gaz. # 126 9th November 1916

The appointments of the undermentioned 2nd Lieutenants (on probation) are confirmed

William Robert Lang

N.Z. Gaz. # 81 10th May 1917

Auckland Regiment

2nd Lieutenant W.R. Lang to be Lieutenant Dated 21st January 1917

# 165 8th 11 1917 Auckland Regt.

Lieutenant W. R. Lang is granted the temporary rank of Captain (17th July 1917)

SAME PAGE stamped  Parchment Commission Issued : date entered 20/2/1917

# 5  17th JAN 1918 Auckland Regt.

Lieutenant (temp. Captain) W.R. Lang   relinquishes the temporary rank of Captain . Dated 8th Aug 1917

# 68  9th May 1918

11th (North Auckland) M.R.

…undermentioned 2nd Lts to be Lts under the provisions of paragraph 111 General Regulations 1913| .Dated 16 April 1918

William Robert Lang

(Promotion Certificate in file)

# 102 25/7/18 Auck. Regt.

Lieutenant W. R. Lang, M.C. is granted the temporary rank of Captain vice Captain  C.L. Knight  M.C. to England on duty. Dated 16th April 1918.

# 154 21/11/18  Auck. Regt.

Lieutenant (temporary Captain) W. R. Lang, M.C. to be a Company Commander 3rd (Reserve) Battalion vice Captain C. L. Knight M. C. proceeded overseas and retains the temporary rank of Captain whilst so employed. Dated 26th August 1918.

# 3 16th January 1919 Auck. Regt.

The undermentioned to be Captains from the dates shown

Lieutenant (temp. Captain) W. R. Lang, M.C. vice Major E Sherson, T.D. killed in action. Dated 20th September 1918.

# 78 2/9/20 15th (North Auckland) Regt.

Lieutenant [Captain, Reserve of Officers (temp.)] William Robert Lang, M.C..,  from the 11th (North Auckland) Mounted Rifles, to be Captain. Dated 2nd August, 1920

***The entries above and below are on sheets placed in a different order in the paperwork  supplied. The order of events is slightly confused. Extraneous note : Major Joseph Gordon Coates, M.C. also appears on the sheet above.

# 80 16/9/20  Reserve of Officers (temp)

Captain William Robert Lang, M.C. is struck off the strength of the N.Z. Expeditionary  Force and posted to the Reserve of Officers (temp.) Dated 4th September 1920.

# 6 14/2/24 9th N.Z. Mounted Rifles (North Auckland)

Captain W. R. Lang, M.C., from the North Auckland Regiment, to be Captain. Dated 9th January 1924

SAME PAGE: The North Auckland Regiment

Captain W.R. Lang, M.C., is transferred to the 9th N. Z. Mounted Rifles (North Auckland) Dated 9th January 1924

# 23 15/4/26 9th N.Z. Mounted Rifles (Nth Auck.)

Captain W.R. Lang, M.C., to be Major  Dated 9th March 1926

Next two entries, same page Dated 8th March Lts H.T. Atkinson and W.F. Sefton to be Captains

# 55 19/7/34

Major W. R. Lang, M. C., V.D., The North Auckland Mounted Rifles is appointed to command the Regiment with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Dated 1st June 1934.

Copy of Certificate with date 1/6/34 included.

#77 20/10/38 The North Auckland Mounted Rifles

Lieutenant-Colonel W.R. Lang, M.C., V.D., Regimental Depot is transferred  to the Reserve of Officers, Class 1 (b) Area 3. Dated 31st May 1938

Certificate of Transfer dated 22/9/38 included

# 10 6/2/41 No 1 (Northland) Squadron Mounted Rifles

Lieutenant-Colonel W.R. Lang, M.C., V.D., from the Reserve of Officers, The North Auckland Mounted Rifles , to be Lieutenant-Colonel, with pay and allowances of a Major, and is appointed to command the Squadron Dated 1/9/40.

EXTRACT(s) Army List(s) as numbered

X 46 1/4/43   COMMANDS

Lt Col W.R. Lang MC., VD., NAMR relinquishes command of No 1 Squadron

Dated 20/2/43

  1. 46 1/4/43 TERRITORIAL FORCES The North Auckland Mounted Rifles (Armoured Regiment (N.Z.))

Lieutenant-Colonel W.R. Lang, M.C., V. D., relinquishes command of No 1 (Northland)  Squadron, is appointed Zone Commander, Zone 3A, and is seconded. Dated 20th February 1943.

X 66 9/9/43 TERRITORIAL FORCES | N.Z. ARMOURED CORPS. | The North Auckland Mounted Rifles (Armoured Regiment (N.Z.))

Lieutenant-Colonel W.R. Lang, M.C., V. D., relinquishes the  appointment of Zone Commander, Zone 3A, and is transferred to the Reserve of Officers, Class I (b), Area 3. Dated 24th August 1943.

Certificate … Transfer to the Reserve…

Unit:   NORTH AUCKLAND MOTORISED REGIMENT (ARMOURED)     as per  X 66 included.

N.Z Gaz. # 6 5th February 1948          | Territorial Force |      Reserve of Officers

The undermentioned officers are posted to the Retired List…

Lieutenant-Colonel W.R. Lang, M.C., V. D.

Notification of Death 27/10/70 recorded 2.8.71

Extracts From NZ Gazette : Format can include page numbers. Can be NZ Gazette or New Zealand Gazette, includes a number not obviously connected to the date, which is included. “His excellency the Governor has been pleased to approve…”  Some of the events apply to the territorial forces and some to the colonial forces. Abbreviated dates, ranks etc, creep into this record.

From left, back row, Lieutenants Morgan and Hair; middle Lieutenant Lang, Captains Coates and Alexander; front Lieutenant Cobb

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