The eldest son of the 1st Viscount Long and his wife Lady Dorothy (Doreen) Boyle, he was baptized 11 September 1879 at St John's Church, West Ashton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

In November of that year he went with his regiment to South Africa to serve in the Second Boer War, where he took part in the ride under Sir John French to the relief of Kimberley, Northern Cape, and was badly wounded at Dronfield.

[2] The war formally ended in early June 1902, but Long stayed in South Africa until late November, when he left on the SS Carisbrook Castle.

After fighting at the Somme in July 1916 he was highly commended by the commander of his division, General Bridges, who wrote of him that his services were invaluable, and his 'cheery laugh was worth a battalion'.

King George sent a telegram to his father expressing his heartfelt sympathy, regretting that his army had lost one of its promising young generals.