William John Long was born in Woburn in August 1875. He was 1 of 9 children born into the large Roman Catholic family of Arthur & Mary.

His father & elder brother Samuel were carpenters & joiners, so William followed into the family business.

William married Annie Mary Ann Dewar on 10th August 1898.

In 1901 William & Annie are living at 36 Ashton Road with their young family, Hilda Annie is 2 & Ethel Alice is just 1 month old.

In 1911 they are living at 21 Henry Street & have had 2 more children, Arthur John & Lily Margaret. William is no longer working as he has an income via private means, but Annie is a straw worker.

At the age of 40 & a widower, on 16th August 1915 William joined the Royal Engineers 643rd East Anglian Field Company. He is described on his pension record as 5ft 10 inches tall, has a fresh complexion with blue eyes & light brown hair. He didn't go abroad he served at home until 22nd June 1917 when he was discharged from the army at Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe, Norwich due to his mental state. It is stated that he was suffering from worry & mania.

He returned to 12 Cobden Street in Luton, when on 19th December 1917 he died. He is buried in the cemetery on Crawley Green Road.