Elijah Long (1889-1918) of Martham
Elijah is listed on the War Memorial as one of those who gave his life during the First World War.
Elijah is listed on the War Memorials at both Martham, where he lived most of his life, and Sculthorpe near Fakenham where his parents lived when he died.
He was born on 24th October 1889 at Attleborough, Norfolk and was the fourth child of George & Ruth Long, nee Allen. He had six siblings who were Edith (b1880); Eliza (b1882); Gertrude (b1884); Oscar (b1892); Alberta (b1896) and Mabel Nora (b1900).
When he was a baby Elijah lived with his parents at New North Road, Attleborough but by 1900 they had moved to Somerton Road, Martham and Elijah attended the Village School from 17th April 1900 until 1st November 1903 having become fourteen. Before 1911 his parents had left the village but he stayed and lived and worked at Pyman’s Stores in White Street where he was an assistant grocer.
He signed up for military service at Great Yarmouth on 8th December 1915 and was initially posted to 3rd Battalion Essex Regiment as Private 28095. He served with the 3rd Battalion until August 1916 in England. He was transferred to the *Hampshire Regiment as Private 26532 and went to the Eastern Front in France from 16th August 1916 until May 1917 when he suffered severe shrapnel wounds at the Somme. He was subsequently discharged as no longer fit for service. He was transferred back home but died of his wounds on 16th March 1918. He is buried at St Mary & All Saints at Sculthorpe. He was 28.
*The 14th Hampshires served throughout the war in France and Flanders, as part of 39th Division. As part of the Army re-organisation that took place in February/March 1918 the battalion was disbanded.