Robert William Long was born on 16 November 1909, a son of Frederick Henry Long and Rebecca Long née George. His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1909 in the West Ham registration district, Essex. On 5 December 1909 he was baptised at St John's Church Stratford, Essex. (West Ham & Stratford are now in Greater London).
The 1911 census return that was completed by his father shows him as a one-year-old child living in a four roomed property at 26 Tennyson Road, Stratford, Essex, with his parents who had been married for 10 years and who by then had seven children of which only six survived. These were: Olive Edith Long (b.1901), twins Dorothy Maud Long & Ivy Winifred Long (b.1903), Elsie Long (b.1906) and Violet Rebecca Long (b.1907). His father described himself as a coach painter at a carriage works.
In May 1928 he is recorded in the UK Postal Service Appointment Books as postman in the London Postal Region (East Central).
Between 24 June 1934 and 8 July 1934 the banns for his marriage to Violet Florence Helene Rees (b.1909) were read on three successive Sundays at St Luke's Church, Oseney Crescent, Camden and they were married on 16 September 1934 at St Mark's Church, Bathurst Gardens, Harlesden where the marriage register shows him as a bachelor and a postal worker living at 47 Patshull Road, Kentish Town, whilst his wife was recorded as a spinster residing at 81 Leighton Gardens, London, NW10, the daughter of William Griffith Rees a deceased commercial traveller.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register he was listed as a postman living at 42 Uppingham Avenue, Stanmore, Middlesex, with his wife who was described as a shop assistant - hosiery buyer.
He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 930245. He rose to the rank of Warrant Officer and was serving in No.49 Squadron when he was killed, aged 34 years, on 8 May 1944. He was acting the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner aboard an Avro Lancaster Mark III aeroplane, serial number JB421, that had taken off from RAF Fiskerton, Lincolnshire, at 21.57 hours on 7 May 1944 to bomb the ammunition dump located at Salbris, France. It crashed near St-Doulchard, France about 2 km WNW of Bourges. All seven of the crew were killed and his body was buried in Military Plot, Row C, Collective grave 1-5, in the St. Doulchard Communal Cemetery.
Probate records confirm his address to have been 42 Uppingham Avenue, Stanmore and that when administration with a will was granted to his widow on 10 October 1945 his effects totalled £1,135-5s-0d.
He is shown as Long R.W. on the Western Postal District war memorial. He is also commemorated on Panel 64 at the International Bomber Command Centre, Canwick Hill, Lincoln, LN4 2HQ, on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Royal Air Force Commands website and on page 158 of the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance's Book of Remembrance 1939-1949.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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