LONG, Cuthbert Jones

Cuthbert Jones-Long was 44 years old, a Ticket Writer by trade, when he joined up. The son of Henry James Long, a pharmacist, he ahd been educated at Scothch College, East Melbourne. He had a conviction for using obscene language, was nearly six feet tall, with blue eyes and brown hair. He gave his widowed mother as his next of kin: Mrs. Marie Leontine Lautour Long, living in East Melbourne, where her son Cuthbert (Bert) had been born. She later moved to 3 Meek St., Middle Brighton, and it was here that she recieved the news of his death in action on 25 April, 1915.

Cuthbert Jones-Long enlisted on 29 August, 1914, and was drafted into the 7th Battalion AIF. It was one of the first infantry regiments raised for the AIF by Colonel H.E. 'Pompey' Elliott within two months of the declaration of war. It was recruited from Victoria and with the 5th, 6th, and 8th Battalions, formed the 2nd Brigade. The 7th Battalion embarked for Turkey on 19 October, 1914, on HMAT Hororata A20. stopping briefly at Albany, Western Australia, before proceeding  to Egypt, arriving 2nd December. It took part in the Anzac landing on 25 April, 1915, as part of the second wave. Sixteen thousand men landed that day; of these 2,000 were wounded or killed, among them Cuthbert Jones-Long. He was buried in Grave No. 469, No 2 Outpost Cemetery, Canakkale, Turkey, Special Memorial 26. His name is also listed on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial, Panel 50 in the Commemorative Area of the AWM.

A notice of his death was placed in The Argus, 19 June, 1915: Long, Cuthbert Jones (Bert) killed in action at the Dardanelles on 3rd June, 1915, third son of the late Henry James Long, chemist, Bourke St., Melbourne, aged 44. Note: The Roll of Honour at the AWM gives his date of death as 25/4/1915

A year later, on 26 April, 1916, there was another notice: Long, Cuthbert Jones Long, B Company 7th battalion, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles. A soldier's death - what greater honour done? (Inserted by his friend, Barbara Neeman)