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1983 (later 528108) Driver CECIL H. LONGLEY, Royal Engineers
(formerly 2068 Private, The Essex Regiment)

by
Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis ©2008

ENLISTMENT(1,3)

Cecil Longley originally served as a Private in the Essex Regiment either prior to or during the Great War of 1914 to 1918. He subsequently transferred to the Royal Engineers Territorial Force, was issued Regimental Number 1983, and was posted to the East Anglian Division Signal Company at Bedford.

UNIT OF ASSIGNMENT(2,4)

When called up for service in the Great War, the East Anglian Division was designated as the 54th Division. Longley’s Regimental Number indicates that he was assigned to the 54th Division Signal Company, R.E.

ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE GREAT WAR(3)

Arrived in Egypt on 20 August 1915.

BATTLES, CAMPAIGNS & UNIT LOCATIONS(3,5)

Gallipoli Campaign

Scimitar Hill, 21 August 1915

Campaigns in Egypt and Palestine

Rumani, 4 to 5 August 1916

Gaza, 26 to 27 March, 17 to 19 April and 27 October to 7 November 1917

El Mughar, 13 November 1917

Nebi Samwil, 17 to 24 November 1917

Jerusalem, 7 to 9 December 1917

Jaffa, 21 to 22 December 1917

Jerusalem, 26 to 30 December 1917

Tel Asur, 8 to 12 March 1918

Sharon, 19 to 25 September 1918

Driver Longley was transferred to the Class "Z" Army Reserve on 17 July 1919.

MEDAL ENTITLEMENTS(3)

1914-15 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

REFERENCES

  1. Naming on the Victory Medal.
  2. Army Council Instructions (ACI) 2243 Appendix 192, of 1916.
  3. Medal Index Card.
  4. Regimental Numbers and units of assignment of R.E. soldiers based on a study of "Soldiers Died in the Great War."
  5. Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers. The Royal Engineers Journal, Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1925-32.