Colonel Long

Colonel Charles J. Long RHA entered the Royal Artillery in 1870 and saw service in the Afghan War 1878-80 with 1 Battery RHA. Other Colenso gunner officers who served in the Afghan War were Lieutenant Colonel HV Hunt and Major AC Bailwood. Long was promoted major in 1886.

As a Lt. Colonel he commanded the Egyptian artillery at Omdurman in 1898. He was mentioned in despatches and received the thanks of Parliament for his services in Sudan however his impetuosity was also commented on by those who were there. In 1899 he was assigned to command the artillery in the Natal Field Force, but on arrival was appointed to command the lines of communications at Estcourt. He despatched the armoured train that was ambushed by the Boers on 15^th November 1899. In the subsequent Court of Inquiry, General Buller commented: “I am of the opinion that the blame for the occurrence rests entirely on Colonel Long.” He was not popular with his subordinates. He commanded Buller’s artillery at Colenso losing ten of twelve guns.

Eyewitness account of the capture

Eyewitness Colonel Bullock 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment