Major-General Sir John Raynsford Longley KCMG CB

John Raynsford Longley was born in Cheltenham in 1867 the son of Charles Thomas Longley of the Indian Civil Service. He was educated at Cheltenham College and commissioned into the East Surreys in 1887, serving in the South African War with the Canadian Scouts. He was CO of the regiment at the outbreak of WW1 proving himself to be brave and inspirational, and in 1915 was appointed Brigade Commander of 82nd Infantry Brigade. By Dec 1915 he was a major-general commanding 10th Irish Division and after the war, in 1919 was given command of 44th Home Counties Division. He retired in 1920 and appointed Colonel of the East Surreys on 27 Sep 1920 a position he held until 1939. During WW2 he was recalled and served at Dover. He was married in 1896 to Iva Malony and they had two sons, one of which, Charles, was serving in the Navy at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and was killed. Major-General Longley died in Feb 1953.

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