Frantisek Langer was born on 3 March 1888 in Prague. After grammar school, he studied medicine, which he successfully completed in 1914. He was then drafted into the army and went to fight on the Eastern Front. In 1916, he was captured and later joined the Czechoslovak Legions, where he later became head physician of the 1st Regiment. After returning to his homeland, he began to engage intensively in literary and theatrical work. In 1939, he left for the UK to escape the German occupiers via Poland and France. There he worked as the head of the medical service of the Czechoslovak Army.
The uniform of the British Army is made of fine wool, partially modified to resemble the Czechoslovak general’s uniform by sewing on new epaulettes, collar tabs and cuff buttons. Above the left breast pocket there are 10 ribbons of decorations sewn on. The jacket fastened with four large, gilded buttons which, like the small Czechoslovak uniform buttons on the pockets and cuffs, were made by the London company Gaunt.