Virtual
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Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Henry Alfred Long was born on 8th August, 1894 at Sydney, New South Wales to parents Henry Alfred & Jane Long (nee Blackburn).

He was listed at a Committal Hearing at Central Court, Sydney on 25th April charged with Breaking & entering a shop & stealing.

Offence: (1) Break and enter a shop and steal therein. (2) Receiving stolen property.

The Trial was set down for 11th May, 1911 & he pled Guilty. Sentence -12 months Hard Labour at Darlinghurst Gaol.

New South Wales Police Gazette – 31st May, 1911:

First Offenders Discharged under Crimes Act of 1900

The following offenders have been released under the provisions of the above Act:

….

Henry Alfred Long (16), tried at the Sydney Quarter Sessions on 12th May, 1911, break, enter, and steal; sentence, twelve months’ hard labour. To be of good behaviour for twelve months (vide Police Gazette, 1911, page 188)

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 7th April, 1915 as a 22 year old, single, Labourer from 4 Queen Street, Chippendale, Sydney, NSW.

Private Henry Alfred Long, Service number 1227, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 25th June, 1915 with the 5th Infantry Brigade, 19th Infantry Battalion “D” Company.  

On 16th August, 1915 Private Long proceeded to join M.E.F. at Gallipoli. He disembarked at Alexandria on 7th January, 1916 (after the evacuation of Gallipoli).

He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No. 2  on 19th January, 1916 for being Absent without Leave from 10 am on 16th January until 7 am on 19th January (69 hours) while posted at Tel-el-Kebir.

Private Long reported sick on 28th January, 1916. He was admitted to 5th Field Ambulance with a bruised Ankle then transferred & admitted to No. 1 Australian Stationary Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir on 8th February, 1916.

On 15th February, 1916 Private Long was admitted to No. 4 Auxiliary Hospital at Abbassia, Cairo having had Meningitis contact (mild). He was discharged to duty on 23rd February, 1916 & reported for duty with 19th Battalion at Moascar on 7th March, 1916.

He proceeded from Alexandria on 20th March, 1916 to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 27th March, 1916.

Private  Long was written up for a Crime on 5th April, 1916 “Conduct to the prejudice of good order & military discipline in that he was drunk”. He was Fined 2/6.

On 5th January, 1917 Private Long reported sick & was admitted to 38th Casualty Clearing Station on 6th January, 1917 with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of Unknown Origin). He was transferred to Ambulance Train on 7th January, 1917 & admitted to 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France on 7th January, 1917 with P.U.O. Private Long embarked for England on Hospital Ship Aberdonian on 24th January, 1917 with “P.U.O. (Trench Fever).”

He was admitted to Bethnal Green Military Hospital, London, England on 25th January, 1917 with Trench fever then transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, Kent, England on 5th February, 1917 with Rheumatism. Private Long was discharged to Furlo on 14th February, 1917 & was then to report to Perham Downs on 1st March, 1917.

Base Records advised Mrs J. Long, 4 Queen Street, Chippendale, Sydney, NSW, mother of Private Henry Alfred Long, that No. 1227 Private A. H. Long had been admitted to Bethnal Green Hospital on 25th January, 1917 suffering from Trench Fever.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the counties of Wiltshire & Dorset. Later Training & Convalescing Units were combined under the one Command Depot.

On 27th February, 1917 Private Long was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire from Furlo. He was admitted to Military Hospital, Parkhouse, Wiltshire on 27th February, 1917 with VD. Private Long was transferred to 1st A.D.H. (Australian Dermatological Hospital) at Bulford, Wiltshire on 19th March, 1917.

(Note: These two instances were recorded on a separate Casualty Form- Active Service. The main Casualty Form – Active Service does not record this information – only that he was marched in from Furlo on 27th February, 1917 then admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford on 1st April, 1917 with Pyelitis & was reported to be dangerously ill.)

Base Records advised Mrs J. Long, 4 Queen Street, Chippendale, Sydney, NSW, on 9th April, 1917 that Private Alfred Long had been admitted to Hospital on 1st April “Nyelitis dangerous will furnish progress report.”

Private Henry Alfred Long died at 6.45 pm on 9th April, 1917 at Bulford Military Hospital, Bulford, Wiltshire, England from Pylitis/Pyelitis.

He was buried in Tidworth Military Cemetery, Wiltshire, England where 172 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/l---m.html