Thomas Charles Long was born on 23rd September 1908 in Middlesex. His father was Charles Long, a Farmer, and his mother was Nellie (née Tanton). The first school that he attended was St Mary’s School in St Mary’s Hoo.
In 1917 Thomas Long joined The County School for Boys – now known as Gravesend Grammar School. The Head Master at that time was the Henry F A Wigley. The County School for Boys was located in Darnley Road, Gravesend close to the Railway Station (now the Victoria Centre for Education). In 1938 the School moved to brand new premises in Church Walk, Milton, Gravesend opposite to Milton Church.
The School’s Admission Register lists Thomas’ address as Moat Farm, St Mary’s Hoo.
In 1919 Thomas left the School. He married Millicent Rose Barnett in 1935 and they had four sons. In the 1939 Census Thomas is listed as living at 72 Suffolk Road, Gravesend and his occupation is Butcher’s Clerk. His father may well have become a Butcher by then, as Charles Long is listed as a Butcher in Meopham in 1944.
Thomas enlisted in the Royal Corps of Signals, as a Corporal, Service Number 2373820. He took part in the Normandy Landings, but died due to wounds sustained in the fighting on 29th July 1944. He was 35 years old. Thomas Long is buried at Hottot-les-Bagues War Cemetery, Calvados, France.

There are links below to Newspaper Clippings and Photographs from the Gravesend Grammar School Archives.
Below are links to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and a few other websites that might be of interest:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2339011/long,-thomas-charles/
http://www.fallenheroesofnormandy.org/Servicemen/Detail/14013
http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/hottotlesbagues.htm

Hottot-les-Bagues War Cemetery, Calvados, France

Newspaper Clipping