William Henry Longden
Memorial: Thornbury - St Mary's Church
Regiment: South Wales Borderers
Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Serjeant 22408
Parents: George and Mary Anne Longden
Marital status: Single
Home address: 8 Holly Tree Cottage, Grovesend, Thornbury, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: Possibly a colliery worker
Date of birth: 1895
Place of birth: Thornbury, Bristol
Date of death: 08/10/1918
Buried/Commemorated at: Guizancourt Farm Cemetery (Ref. A. 14.), Gouy; St Tyfaelog Church, Pontlottyn, Bargoed
Age: 22
Further information:
Bronze Tablet and Wooden Memorial Board
Born at Grovesend in 1895, William Henry Longden was the youngest child of stonemason George Longden and his wife, Polly. He had two older sisters and three older brothers. Polly’s death, aged 44, is registered in the same quarter, it is likely she died soon after William’s birth. The 1901 Census shows George, with his three youngest sons, boarding with Mary Jane Riddle and her children at the Hackett. Her husband, Luke, was in the Thornbury Union Workhouse. Luke died in 1902 and in 1904 Mary Jane married George Longden. The 1911 Census shows the family living at Grovesend, when 15 year old William was an errand boy. He had gained many older step-siblings and a younger half brother and sister. William moved to South Wales, and was probably employed in the collieries like his older stepbrother, William G. C. Riddle
By December 1915 William had joined South Wales Borderers, 38th Welsh Division and may already have been serving in the 10th (1st Gwent) Battalion. This ‘Pals’ Battalion consisted mainly of colliers and iron workers from Monmouthshire. 10th Battalion saw action at Mametz Wood during the Somme Offensive in 1916. By 12th July the Division had suffered 3,993 casualties. In August, the Division was sent to the Ypres Salient but saw no major action as it was still rebuilding. Meanwhile, William G. C. Riddle had joined the same regiment but was not on active service. In 1917 the Division fought during the Third Battle of Ypres
10th Battalion took part in a number of battles in response to the German Spring Offensive of 1918. Eventually the Allies started pushing the Germans back towards the Hindenburg Line. During his time in the regiment William was promoted to the rank of Serjeant. William G. C. Riddle embarked for France on 19th September, joining his stepbrother in 10th Battalion but was transferred to 16th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, also in38th Division, on the last day of that month
In early October the Division faced a strong enemy position at Villers Outreaux. The line was heavily wired and well defended by machine guns. On the 8th a night attack commenced at 1 a.m. in the pouring rain. One brigade, with 10th Borderers including William Longden, sought to envelop the village, suffering heavy casualties. The 10th Battalion’s Company Serjeant Major won a Victoria Cross during this action. Meanwhile another Brigade, with 16th, Fusiliers including William G. C. Riddle, attacked through nearby Mortho Wood. The enemy was routed but the Division suffered 1,290 casualties. Its history notes that 8th October was ‘perhaps the stiffest fighting of the whole advance’
William Longden was Killed in Action. His grave is at Guizancourt Farm Cemetery. His stepbrother, William G. C. Riddle was killed on the same day and lies about five kilometres away at Bois-Des-Angles British Cemetery. Their brother James Longden fell in April 1918. All three are remembered on the Thornbury Memorial
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Thornbury Roots Website. Thornbury and District Museum Research Group and the CWGC