Name
Frank Edwin Long
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/09/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Able Seaman
J/5787
Royal Navy
HMS Black Prince
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Panel 7
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St Albans WW1 Memorial, St Peters Street, St Albans, St Albans Citizens Memorial, Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, St Michael's Church Memorial, St Albans, St Mary's Church Individual Plaque, Childwickbury Estate, Not on the Little Berkhamsted Memorial
Pre War
Frank Edwin Long was born in Little Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, the son of George and Emma Long and baptised on 6 August 1893 at Little Berkhamsted. He was one of eight children, but one died in infancy.
The 1901 census shows the family living at Pudds Cross, Bovingdon, Herts where his father was working as a cattleman on a farm. They had moved to St Albans by 1911 and were living at The Jockey, Harpenden Road but Frank had joined the Royal Navy in 1909 and was listed as a Boy 1st Class, serving on HMS Furious in No. 5 Basin, HM Dockyard, Portsmouth.
His parents later lived at Hawkswick Cottages, St Albans.
Wartime Service
Frank joined the Royal Navy as a 'Boy' on 21 October 1909 and enlisted as an Ordinary Seaman on 29 June 1911 for 12 years at the age of 18.
He served on several ships including the Leviathan, Albermarle, Drake, Grafton, King Edward VII, Irresistible, Vernon and Bristol.
Frank was accidentally drowned at sea on 30 September 1915, aged 22, while serving on HMS Black Prince. On his service record a note states that he drowned "whilst endeavouring to recover his oilskins which had fallen overboard". It was also noted that no blame was attributable to anyone. Frank's body was not recovered for burial but his name is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
(N.B. The Black Prince was later sunk at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 with the loss of the entire crew.)
Additional Information
Pension cards exist with his mother as dependant, but give no details as to the amount of pension received.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Gareth Hughes, Christine Aitken
