Detail victim

Name LONG
Initials AF
First name ARCHIE FRANKLIN
Place of birth Armatree
Country New South Wales
Family Son of H W Long, Armatree, New South Wales
Profession Station hand
Extra info Archie Long had enlisted with his brother, Edward. They were allocated consecutive service numbers and both served with 4 Battalion. They transferred to 1 Pioneer Battalion together but Edward was captured and taken prisoner by the Germans in May 1916, which may have prompted Archie's subsequent return to 4 Battalion.

Place & date of enlistment 4 August 1915, Dubbo
Service number 4028
Rank Lance Serjeant
Medals MM, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Regiment and unit 4th Bn. Australian Infantry
Division - Brigade 1st Brigade
Army - Corps - Division 1st Australian Division
National force A.I.F.
Other data related to military career Embarked on 30 December 1915; transferred to 1Pioneer Battalion in March 1916. He received a bullet wound to the left hand the following month. In September 1916 Long transferred back to his original unit, 4 Battalion. He was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. The recommendation for the award reads, 'At DEMICOURT, on 15th April 1917, Pte. LONG showed great courage and devotion to duty by proceeding out into the open and sniping the Germans as they advanced on DEMICOURT, thus helping materially to encourage his comrades and beat off the attack. His gallantry, together with his good shooting, enabled him to inflict heavy casualties upon the attackers.' He was promoted to lance corporal in May 1917; to corporal and then lance sergeant and machine gun sergeant of the battalion's 13th Platoon in D company the following month.

Wounded 22 September 1917, close to Clapham Junction near Polygon Wood
Type of wounds While taking shelter in a shell hole, Long was hit by shrapnel in the back and right buttock and was also wounded in both legs. He died shortly after arriving at n°10 CCS.
Date of death 22 September 1917
Died at the age of 20
Grave reference Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery XXIV - F - 10A