School hears word from the trenches

By Nicole Williams
A COPY of the World War I diary of Dandenong High School’s first headmaster has returned to the school.
Trooper Percy Langford’s daughter, Dr Ruth Bishop AO, presented a copy of the diary to current principal Martin Culkin at the school’s Anzac assembly last week.
“The acquisition of the war diary is a unique symbol of the school’s link between the past and present,” Mr Culkin said.
Trooper Langford served in the trenches of Gallipoli and returned home to Melbourne before the end of the campaign after developing typhoid fever.
He was appointed the first principal of Dandenong High School, where he served until 1934.
His 4th Light Horse Regiment was the inspiration for the school colours of dark blue, light blue and red.
Dr Bishop visited the school on Friday 29 April to present the diary and address the students.
Mr Culkin said the words of Trooper Langford would help educate current and future students.
“Not only is this an incredibly valuable addition to the school’s archives, but it will have a very special ongoing practical application, using the actual words of the first headmaster, as he grappled with the day to day challenge of survival in the trenches of Gallipoli, as the basis for teaching today’s students about the conditions our soldiers endured in the battlefields of World War I,” he said.