Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War C.M.G. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. J. “Linger” Long, King’s Royal Rifle Corps


The Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Lushai 1889-92 (2d. Lieutt., 4th Bn. K.Rl. Rif. Corps); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Orange Free State, Cape Colony (Captain, K.R.R.C.) clasps mounted in order as listed; King’s South Africa, 2 clasps (Capt., K.R.R.C.); 1914-15 Star (Major, K.R.Rif.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt.Col.); Delhi Durbar 1911, contact marks to the earlier medals, otherwise very fine and better (8) £700-900

C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazette 25 June 1915 and 1 January 1916.

Wilfred James Long was born in 1871, son of Rear-Admiral Samuel Long, and educated at Winchester College. He was commissioned into the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in 1889 and served in the operations in the Chin Hills 1891-92, with the Lushai Column (Medal with clasp). As a Captain he served with the regiment throughout the War in South Africa 1899-1902 (Queen’s medal with six clasps, King’s medal with two clasps). At the outbreak of the Great War, “Linger” Long was serving with the 3rd Battalion in India until January 1915, when the battalion went to France, with Long as second-in-command. In the autumn of 1915 when the 80th Brigade of Rifles left France, Long took the 3rd battalion to Salonika where his wide experience on the inhospitable veldt of South Africa stood the battalion in good stead. During the Great War he was wounded twice, Mentioned in Despatches twice, awarded the C.M.G. and a Brevet Lieutenant-Colonelcy. “Linger” Long died on 24 May 1954, aged 82.