Walter Long (British Army officer)
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General Walter Long CMG
, DSO
(26 July 1879 – 27 January 1917) was a British
soldier.
The eldest son of the 1st Viscount Long and his wife Lady Dorothy (Doreen) Boyle, he was baptized 11 September 1879 at St John's Church, West Ashton
, Trowbridge
, Wiltshire
.
, he joined the Royal Scots Greys in 1899. In November of that year he went with his regiment to South Africa, where he took part in the ride under Sir John French to the relief of Kimberley, Northern Cape
, and was badly wounded at Dronfield. He was mentioned in dispatches
several times in South Africa, and while there, gained the DSO, and the Queen's and King's Medal
s, each with two clasps. On return to duty he was appointed ADC
to General Sir Bruce Hamilton. He served throughout the campaign, and when he returned to England was made ADC to Sir Harry Scobell commanding the First Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot
. Long resigned this appointment in order to return to his regiment. After serving with his regiment for some years, he went to India as additional ADC to General Sir Garrett O'Moore Creagh, and afterwards he went to Canada to serve as ADC to the Duke of Connaught
.
Long spent the early part of World War I
in France, and took part in the Battle of Mons
, after which he was made a Brigadier General
. After fighting at the Somme
in July 1917 he was highly commended by the commander of his division, General Bridges, who wrote of him that his services were invaluable, and his 'cheery laugh was worth a battalion'.
He was mentioned in dispatches several times by Lord French
and also Sir Douglas Haig
, and was given a CMG. Shortly before his death he was given a brevet
lieutenant-colonelcy
.
Long was a champion light-weight boxer while at Harrow, and for two years middle-weight champion in the British Army
.
. There was one son from this marriage, Walter
, who succeeded his grandfather as 2nd Viscount Long.
at Hébuterne
, France
on 28 January 1917, aged 37. King George
sent a telegram to his father expressing his heartfelt sympathy, regretting that his army had lost one of its promising young generals. He is buried at the Couin British Cemetery, France. His widow remarried on 25 April 1921 to Ralph Glyn, 1st Baron Glyn
. She died in 1958.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(26 July 1879 – 27 January 1917) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier.
The eldest son of the 1st Viscount Long and his wife Lady Dorothy (Doreen) Boyle, he was baptized 11 September 1879 at St John's Church, West Ashton
West Ashton
West Ashton is a village civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is two miles south of Trowbridge, on the A350 road between Melksham and Yarnbrook bypassing Trowbridge....
, Trowbridge
Trowbridge
Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bath, Somerset....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
Military career
Educated at HarrowHarrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, he joined the Royal Scots Greys in 1899. In November of that year he went with his regiment to South Africa, where he took part in the ride under Sir John French to the relief of Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
, and was badly wounded at Dronfield. He was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
several times in South Africa, and while there, gained the DSO, and the Queen's and King's Medal
King's Medal
The King's Medal may refer to:* H. M. The King's Medal, Swedish royal medal* King's Medal of Merit, Norwegian award*The King's South Africa Medal awarded to military personnel who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa on or after January 1, 1902, and had completed 18 months service before...
s, each with two clasps. On return to duty he was appointed ADC
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to General Sir Bruce Hamilton. He served throughout the campaign, and when he returned to England was made ADC to Sir Harry Scobell commanding the First Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
. Long resigned this appointment in order to return to his regiment. After serving with his regiment for some years, he went to India as additional ADC to General Sir Garrett O'Moore Creagh, and afterwards he went to Canada to serve as ADC to the Duke of Connaught
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the shared British and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha royal family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the 10th since Canadian Confederation.Born the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and...
.
Long spent the early part of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in France, and took part in the Battle of Mons
Battle of Mons
The Battle of Mons was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War. It was a subsidiary action of the Battle of the Frontiers, in which the Allies clashed with Germany on the French borders. At Mons, the British army attempted to hold the line of the...
, after which he was made a Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
. After fighting at the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
in July 1917 he was highly commended by the commander of his division, General Bridges, who wrote of him that his services were invaluable, and his 'cheery laugh was worth a battalion'.
He was mentioned in dispatches several times by Lord French
John French, 1st Earl of Ypres
Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, ADC, PC , known as The Viscount French between 1916 and 1922, was a British and Anglo-Irish officer...
and also Sir Douglas Haig
Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig
Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE, ADC, was a British senior officer during World War I. He commanded the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to the end of the War...
, and was given a CMG. Shortly before his death he was given a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
lieutenant-colonelcy
Lieutenant-Colonel (UK)
Lieutenant colonel is a rank in the British Army and Royal Marines which is also used in many Commonwealth countries. The rank is superior to major, and subordinate to colonel...
.
Long was a champion light-weight boxer while at Harrow, and for two years middle-weight champion in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
Family
He married on 17 December 1910 in London, Sibell Vanden Bempde-Johnstone OBE, granddaughter of Baron DerwentBaron Derwent
Baron Derwent, of Hackness in the North Riding of the County of York, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1881 for the former Liberal Member of Parliament for Scarborough, Sir Harcourt Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone, 3rd Baronet. His grandson, the third Baron , was an...
. There was one son from this marriage, Walter
Walter Long, 2nd Viscount Long
Walter Francis David Long, 2nd Viscount Long was a British peer.The eldest son of Brigadier General Walter Long, CMG, DSO , Long was educated at St David's School, Reigate, and later at Eton on the insistence of his mother, who had remarried in 1921 to Baron Glyn. Traditionally the Longs were...
, who succeeded his grandfather as 2nd Viscount Long.
Death
Brigadier General Long was killed in actionKilled in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
at Hébuterne
Hébuterne
Hébuterne is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village situated southwest of Arras, at the junction of the D27 and the D28 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 28 January 1917, aged 37. King George
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
sent a telegram to his father expressing his heartfelt sympathy, regretting that his army had lost one of its promising young generals. He is buried at the Couin British Cemetery, France. His widow remarried on 25 April 1921 to Ralph Glyn, 1st Baron Glyn
Ralph Glyn, 1st Baron Glyn
Major Ralph George Campbell Glyn, 1st Baron Glyn MC DL , known as Sir Ralph Glyn, Bt, from 1934 to 1953, was a soldier and Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was a Member of Parliament from 1918 to 1922, and from 1924 to 1953.-Background and education:Glyn was the son of the...
. She died in 1958.