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Auction: 22103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals VII - e-Auction
Lot: 671

A 1918 'Tunneller's' M.M. group of two awarded to Sergeant E. Long, 170th Tunnel Company, whose long career began during the Boer War and was capped by a gallantry award in 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (86537. Sjt: E. Long. R.E.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (6142 Pte. E. Long. Welsh Regt), good very fine (2)

M.M. London Gazette 1 February 1919.

Evan Long was born at Creech Heathfield, Taunton, Somerset in 1879. Enlisting with the Welsh Regiment on 20 November 1899 he was posted to the 1st Battalion on 22 September 1900, joining them in South Africa during the Boer War where he served until 19 October 1901. Returning to Britain, Long saw Home Service until 19 November 1907 when he was transferred to the Army Reserve, extending this service on 20 November 1911.

With the outbreak of the Great War Long was still with the Welsh Regiment but transferred to 170th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers on 1 June 1915. Entering the war in France on 24 November 1915, promoted Corporal on 22 July 1917 and further advanced Sergeant on 19 January 1918. Notably Long's company had been heavily involved in fighting a large fire in Bethune in April 1918. Despite the later gazette the company War Diary notes that the M.M. was awarded on 21 September 1918. Demobilised on 22 February 1919; sold together with a London Gazette entry, M.I.C., census data and service records.

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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£180