Private 1688, 1st/5th Bn, Norfolk Regiment
Died 28th August 1915, aged 21
Remembered Helles Memorial, Turkey
& on both Blakeney War Memorials
Although registered at birth and baptised in the Methodist Church as James Herbert Long, he was always known as Herbert. Herbert was born 2nd August 1894, the 4th son of 7 children born to William (born Morston 1856) and Elizabeth Long nee Secker (born Wells 1865). His siblings, all born in Blakeney and baptised in the Methodist Church, were John William (Jack), Alice, William Henry (Henry), Ernest Albert, Frederick and Edward. Apart from Edward, born 1902, all his brothers appear to have served in the Great War and all returned home safely.
The family lived initially in the High Street but by 1911, William Long with his wife and 4 youngest sons was living in Westgate Street. Edward, given as age 7, was already at school while Herbert, aged 16, like his father and older brother Ernest were fishermen working for themselves. Frederick, aged 14, was neither at school nor working. His occupation was left blank.
Herbert enlisted at Wells joining the 1st/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment (T.F.) as Private 1688. He was with the 54th East Anglian Brigade when they landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli for the second land offensive in early August 1915. Sadly he was to die towards the end of the month in an ambush that has never really been solved. Seemingly the 5th Norfolks became separated on the right of the Line and momentarily less strongly opposed than the rest of the Brigade. A bold officer led some 270 men on, pushing the enemy before them. As Sir Ian Hamilton wrote in his dispatch of 11th December, “ they charged into the forest and were lost to sight or sound. Not one of them ever came back.”
The Norfolk Chronicle, 1st October 1915 reported as follows; “Mr William Long has received official intimation from the War Office that his son, HERBERT LONG, of the 5th Norfolks, has been missing since August 25th. His cousin, Samuel, also of the 5th Norfolks, saw him about this date when he was well and happy. The Long family is numerically represented in the fighting line, and the general hope is expressed that good news may be forthcoming when the Turkish authorities consider the opportunity fitting to render a list of British prisoners in their hands.”
”August 28th is the date given for his death by the CWGC when Herbert is listed on the Helles memorial. He is remembered on the Blakeney War Memorial as H. J. Long, not to be confused with his cousin, James Herbert Long who is listed as J. H. Long.