Private Charles Escott Long, Royal Marine Light Infantry

[Anthony Ewen]

Private Long (PO/18461) enlisted with Royal Marine Light Infantry (Portsmouth Division) in February 1915 and saw service in Gallipoli, then Greece and the Salonika Front until May 1916 when he was posted to France and the Western Front where he was wounded in November 1916.  In April 1918 he took part in the Zeebrugge Raid and was then posted to northern Russia.  He had been brought up on the Isle of Wight and in December 1918 the local newspaper reported that "he had lost his right leg as a result of a train accident in Northern Russia where he had been serving for some time".

Can anyone help with what may have happened with that accident?  I do not believe he was still in Russia at the time of the Murmansk mutinies in 1919.

[horatio2]

You may find the answer in his ADM 157 papers at Kew -  https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16559488

[Anthony Ewen]

Many thanks for the suggestion - will follow this up.

Tony ewen

[58 Div Mule]

Almost certainly a member of the Royal Marines Field Force North Russia (RMFFNR). Formed in May 1918 and Commanded by Lt Col R C Patterson RMA.

 

Arrived in Murmansk 29 May on board SS Porto.

 

Lots of action up and down the railway network.

 

A significant number of RMFFNR men had participated in the Zeebrugge Raid.

 

Not to be confused with 6th Battalion RM numbers of whom refused duties in 1919.

 

58 DM.

[58 Div Mule]

Apologies.

 

Sources = Blumberg's Sea Soldiers 1914 - 1919 & the excellent "Churchill's Secret War with Lenin", author Damien Wright, forum member ( I got it for Christmas!).

 

58 DM.

[Anthony Ewen]

Many thanks for the information - much appreciated.

Tony

[domwalsh]

The Hampshire Telegraph of 2 May 1924 wrote up his wedding in Southsea. It repeated the mention of the loss of his leg in Russia. After the war he moved back to Petersfield to live with his parents before moving to Southsea.

He served in 6 Platoon, Portsmouth Company, during the Zeebrugge Raid. 

DM if you'd like more information on the raid and the role of the marines.