Sir John Raynsford Longley

John Raynsford Longley was the son of Charles Thomas Longley, of the Indian Civil Service. He was commissioned in the East Surrey Regiment from the Militia on 4 May 1887. He was Adjutant 1st East Surrey (1890-93), Adjutant Canadian Scouts (1902) in the South African War and Adjutant Volunteers (April-November 1903). Longley became CO 1st East Surrey on 21 June 1911.

In August 1914 he took his battalion to war as part of 14th Brigade, 5th Division, in the original BEF. During the savage and chaotic fighting round Ypres in November 1914, ‘courageous to a fault … Longley set a magnificent example of initiative and leadership’. This was rewarded in January 1915 by promotion to GOC 82nd Brigade, 27th Division.

Longley added to his reputation at Second Ypres, in April and May. These were the only major operations undertaken by 27th Division during its stay on the Western Front. It was re-deployed to Salonika in November. Longley remained in command only until December when he became GOC 10th (Irish) Division. He commanded this formation in Salonika and in Palestine with exceptional skill and was mentioned in despatches eleven times.

After the war he commanded 44th (Home Counties) Division TA until his retirement on 22 June 1923. He was knighted in 1919. Major-General Longley married Iva Kathleen Molony in 1896. They had two sons. One of them, Midshipman Charles Raynsford Longley, was killed in action on HMS Indefatigable on 31 May 1916 during the battle of Jutland. He was 18.