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He would have been born outside of wedlock. I imagine to avoid social disgrace that after Harry Malcolm Morris was killed in action her possible fiancée she gave birth in a salvation mothers hospital.

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1346183

As we know though, so many people had aliases, some because they were hiding something, others because they were underage.

On this particular case it clearly states on his WW1 service records "Stated to be a Jack Lang". The Jack Officer Lang in question seems to disappear after his birth registration...... so I'm thinking it's definitely the track to be on. :-)

Even if he did change his name because it sounded German (which of course it didn't ) there was no need to change his first name

:-D :-D <3

Dea Xxx

~~~~~~~ waving at ya Dea :-D :-D

Well, that would certainly make more sense ;-)

Dea x

Think that a Jack Lang was a political figure around that time in Australia, maybe the change was made to stop any confusion???

Except that 'Lang' does not sound in the least bit German ?????

Perhaps Scottish, if anything?

Dea x

Hi BatMansDaughter, than you for the history lesson. I am intrigued too and the only plausible situation that must have happened for him to change his name is that the name Lang probably sounded German and during ww1 that may have caused some ill will among his fellow Australia/British citizens. Jack Lang must have changed his name to make it socially acceptable during the First World War and it looks like he enlisted in the name he changed to as he thought that name was socially acceptable because at that time when the First World War started so so would have had an hatred for Germans because of the Nazi's and and changed his name also his name out if fear of being labelled as a Nazi. Does that make sense to anyone?

Hello Mark,

I've been looking at others that joined up with your G Grandfather, this chap Frederick Birk has the history of the first few months on joing up,

" Birks enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on 18 August 1914, only a few weeks after the war started. He trained at a camp in Broadmedows, and was assigned to the 2nd Field Ambulance of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. The 2nd Field Ambulance boarded the HMAT A18 Wiltshire in Melbourne on 19 October 1914, and set sail for Egypt. After stopping in Albany, the unit arrived in Egypt on 10 December. After spending some time in Alexandria, Birks' unit was incorporated into the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and was sent into action at the Landing at Anzac Cove, providing medical support for the 2nd Infantry Brigade. The 2nd Brigade were also sent to Cape Helles, where they assisted in the attack on Krithia. During the battle, Birks was carrying wounded under heavy shell and rifle fire, in areas where stretchers were unable to reach. His "devotion to duty and good work" earned him his first Military Medal recommendation. On 26 June 1915, Birks was wounded by shrapnel but returned to service the next day, remaining on Gallipoli until 9 September."

So presumably Harry landed in the UK a couple of weeks after 19th October 1914. I see your Grandfathers DOB is 30th June 1915, was he born early?

I must admit I'm really intrigued about Harry. :-D

Hi Mark,

I can see your grandfather was born in the Hackney area. I see a marriage for Mary Cole to Charles Shemming in 1903 in Samford area Suffolk.

So Mary Shemming has 3 children by the 1911 census, no husband with her, she's on "parish relief".

How on earth did she meet Harry. Knowing the fathers name for your Grandfather is very fortunate, I would imagine that Mary wouldn't have spoke about him often.

Harry Malcolm Morris died single. His son my Grand father Albert Maurice SHEMMING was a Bastard as he was born from Mary Cole in the Salvation Mothers Hospital which was a hospital for unwed mothers. According to the ww1 information I have recently learned is that when soldiers where having a break from war they the only place they could go for a rest was the United Kingdom. He probably got the Surname SHEMMING from his stepfather and they didn't really get along as he enlisted in the British army when he was legally old enough too. Thank you everyone for your help. Much appreciated.

This is the birth registration that I thought could have been your G Grandfathers,

Name: Jack Officer Lang
Father's Name: Wm Lang
Mother's name: Ellen Grant
Birth Place: Hotham, Victoria
Registration Year: 1895
Registration Place: Victoria
Registration Number: 30195


There are a few trees on Anc*stry with this family, someone has Jack Lang dying in the 1970's, that's completely wrong it's his sisters death ( Lilian George), so like I stated earlier nothing more that I can see for this chap.

Looking at the above family, there movements seem to be around Type Street and I've also found Ivy's husband Bonnell living in Leslie Street.

What child of Harry Malcolm Morris do you descend from? I haven't found a conclusive marriage for him, and as he was single in August 1914 and had died by a March 1915 that's an extremely short window for him to marry, or was there a child born out of wedlock?

I maybe way off the mark here, I've been looking around and I can't understand why your G Grandfathers name is Harry Malcolm Morris...... unless this is just a name he decided to use, this would also be backed up with the "Stated to be " name Jack Lang on the WW1 enlistment records.

I've been looking into the marriage of Ellen Grant to William Lang. They have quite a few children, 1 son born in 1895 called Jack Officer Lang.......after his birth registration I see nothing more for him.

I've found an obituary for his brother,

"LANG - on the 14th May, 1933 (result of acci-
dent), Lionel William, beloved son of William
and Ellen Lang, and loving brother of Ruby (de-
ceased), Lily (Mrs A. George), Jack (deceased),
Nellie (Mrs Meredith), Frank, Ivy (Mrs. Bonnell),
and Tom, aged 40 years. "

Now I'm wondering if this could be the family your looking for??? I'll dig a little deeper.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/search?adv=y

(always worth a look in Newspapers)

Chris :)

Your great Grandfather also went by the name of Jack Lang.

The WW1 service records have quite some detail in them, a hand written letter from his mother, she mentions his father.

Print them off and have a good look. :-)

He joined 18th August 1914.

He was 22 years and 4 months old.

He was born in Melbourne.

He was single when he enlisted.

He died of pneumonia

His mother Mrs Ellen Lang was living at 32 Leslie Street, Richmond.


There's lots more, go onto the National Archives of Australia, once you've found him click onto the "view digital copy" on the top right hand corner.

From the CWG site

MORRIS, HARRY MALCOLM
Rank:Private

Service No:169

Date of Death:04/03/1915

Regiment/Service:Australian Army Service Corps 2nd Field Amb

Grave ReferenceB. 168

.CemeteryCAIRO WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY