Diss Family History Group

To date it has been impossible to identify details about William’s life. There are three possible William Longs, none of which can be positively linked to the service details below.

William was the subject of a Regimental Board, looking into his discharge from the military, which is the only source of information about his military career. From this the following has been taken.

On 12 November 1864, at the age of 18 years 6 months, from South Lopham, he was attested in Westminster, Middlesex, into the army as Private 852, 8th Regiment of the Royal Hussars. He was promoted to Corporal on 30 March 1867. At a medical examination in Manchester on 24 February 1868 he was found to have phthisis pulmonalis (a wasting tuberculosis, commonly called consumption) which was deemed to be present prior to enlisting and was not as a result of service; “Tubercules in a crude state exist in both lungs and the body is much emaciated - not likely to be able to contribute much more than a mite - in future - towards earning a livelihood, neither causes were aggravated by intemperance or other vice.” On 25 February 1868 he was declared unfit for service and was finally discharged on 17 March 1868, and had served for a total of 4 years 7 days, no part of which had he served abroad. His intended place of residence was 32 Bread Street, Cheapside, London. [The 8th Hussars were part of the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ in 1854. They were stationed in England during William&rsqujo;s service, being between their time in India ending in 1864 and their move to Northern Ireland in 1869.]

Considering the details from the military record, currently the most likely William is a William Button LONG. He was born in South Lopham at about the right time and also was found in and around London in 1871 to 1901 Census returns, becoming an inmate in a lunatic asylum (probably the Fisherton House Asylum in Salisbury) on 26 July 1904, dying there on 25 September 1905, civil registration: 1905 Q3 Salisbury Vol 5A Page 98.

Life facts about William have been entered into Family Historian. Show this.

Last updated: Sun, 20 Sep 2026
LONG, William
Family Historian Individual Narrative To date it has been impossible to identify details about William’s life. There are three possible William Longs, none of which can be positively linked to the service details below. William was the subject of a Regimental Board, looking into his discharge from the military, which is the only source of information about his military career. From this the following has been taken. On 12 November 1864, at the age of 18 years 6 months, from South Lopham, he was attested in Westminster, Middles..... View full FH text (See notes below)
Military:	William was the subject of a Regimental Board, looking into his discharge from the military, which is the only source of information about his military career. From this the following has been taken. On 12 November 1864, at the age of 18 years 6 months, from South Lopham, he was attested in Westminster, Middlesex, into the army as Private 852, 8th Regiment of the Royal Hussars. He was promoted to Corporal on 30 March 1867. At a medical examination in Manchester on 24 February 1868 he was found to have phthisis pulmonalis (a wasting tuberculosis, commonly called consumption) which was deemed to be present prior to enlisting and was not as a result of service; “Tubercules in a crude state exist in both lungs and the body is much emaciated - not likely to be able to contribute much more than a mite - in future - towards earning a livelihood, neither causes were aggravated by intemperance or other vice.” On 25 February 1868 he was declared unfit for service and was finally discharged on 17 March 1868, and had served for a total of 4 years 7 days, no part of which had he served abroad. His intended place of residence was 32 Bread Street, Cheapside, London.
Notes:	The 8th Hussars were part of the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ in 1854. They were stationed in England during William&rsqujo;s service, being between their time in India ending in 1864 and their move to Northern Ireland in 1869.
Notes:	Considering the details from the military record, currently the most likely William is a William Button LONG. He was born in South Lopham at about the right time and also was found in and around London in 1871 to 1901 Census returns, becoming an inmate in a lunatic asylum (probably the Fisherton House Asylum in Salisbury) on 26 July 1904, dying there on 25 September 1905, civil registration: 1905 Q3 Salisbury Vol 5A Page 98.
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