dso

Captain John Oliver Naismith, holding a Special Reserve Commission, was promoted to Major, while in command of a Battery, with effect 25 Sep 1916. LG 29993 of 20 Mar 1917. Immediately after the Armistice he was appointed to an instructor appointment at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Acting Major with effect 13 Nov 1918. LG of 20 Dec 1918.//

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

At the time of the 1911 census he was a scholar at the United Services College in Windsor which confirms his place of birth as Aldershot. The DSO database for the college states he was the son of Major General SS Long www.haileybury.com/medals/dso USC.htm Selden Herbert Long was named as the sole executor of the estate of Sidney Selden Long when he died on 31st January 1940.
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34864/pages/3386/page.pdf

His Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate states that he was born 6th Oct 1895. His certificate was taken on Maurice Farham Biplane at the Military School, Brooklands on 25th January 1915. At that time he was a 2nd Lieut in the Durham Light Infantry. His address was given as 136 Shooter's Hill, Blackheath.
His Wikipedia entry refers to the MC citation:

Before ever scoring an aerial victory, he won the Military Cross (gazetted on 29 October 1915). The citation to the MC tells the tale:

"For conspicuous gallantry on several occasions, notably the following: —

"On 10 September 1915, he went out to attack an observation balloon shed with a 100-lb. bomb, but, being heavily fired at by an anti-aircraft battery, he silenced the guns with this bomb and returned for another one, with which he attacked the balloon. He only narrowly missed it as it was being deflated beside the shed.

"On 23 September he made two determined attacks on trains from 500 feet, breaking the rails in two places. On the first occasion he returned to the attack three times, and finally climbed to 1,000 feet in order to make better use of his bomb sight; on the second occasion he made most of his return journey at 1,000 feet in order better to examine villages, roads, etc.

"On 25 September he attacked a train at 500 feet under heavy rifle fire, and damaged the line. Late in the afternoon of 25 September he heard that trains were moving at 25 miles distance, and, in spite of darkness and bad weather, he volunteered to attack them. Heavy rain prevented his reaching them, so he turned to attack Peronne station, descending to 500 feet and coming under heavy anti-aircraft gun fire. This fire prevented his reaching the station, but he climbed to 1,500 feet and attacked a "Rocket" battery, silencing one of its guns."

The National Probate Calendar shows that he died on 12th December 1952 at Tamboers-Kloof Nursing Home In Cape Town, South Africa. His address in London was given as The International Sportsmens Club, Upper Grosvenor Road. Probate was granted to Marion Beatrice Long.

He also received the DSO
For great skill and daring in piloting his machine. He shot down an enemy machine, which fell in our lines, and the same day he forced another hostile machine to land in the enemy's lines. Later, he shot down another enemy machine, which fell in our lines.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 12 March 1917 (29981/2476)

His 9 aerial victories, (4 of them shared), are listed here:-
www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/long.php

The first, in August 1916, was with 29 Squadron. All the rest were with 24 Squadron and came between November 1916 and April 1917.
All came while flying a DH2 - those with 24 Squadron all while flying the same plane, (A305)

According to the biographical notes in Above The Trenches, he commanded a squadron in the United Kingdom but managed to obtain a posting back to France and joined No 46 Squadron as a flight commander on 5 July 1917. He was made acting Commanding Officer in August but by the end of the month had been posted to command No 28 Training Squadron. He later commanded No 111 Squadron in Palestine.
www.theaerodrome.com/forum/5875-post7.html

From Page 51 of Pusher Aces of World War One by John Guttman
"That same day (25th January 1917), Captain Selden Long downed an LVG from Flt Abt (A)216 in flames between Baupaume and and Clery, its crewman Ltns d R Ernst Erdmann and Gunter Kallenbach, jumping to their deaths. Long destroyed another two seater near Baupaume 48 hours later, kiling Vzfw Willy Lang and Ltn Kurt Brandt of Flt (A) 233.
books.google.co.uk/books?id=is-ij4XZRTIC&pg=PA51&...

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

Posted to No.28 Training Squadron, Castle Bromwich on 28/8/17 as Acting Squadron Commander. In that capacity he gave evidence at Coroner's Inquiries into two training fatalities which occurred while he was there. Posted to RFC Middle East on 2/1/18 embarking on 8/1/18. National Archive and other sources are as follows. Air1/369/15/231/9 & Air1/11/15/1/38 & C. Thornton - Warwickshire Coroner's Docs. & G.V.L. Lewis - Birmingham Coroner's Docs. & Air 76 & Erdington News 13/10/17

I believe the title of his book was actually "In the Blue", not "Into the Blue".

The Hon. Herbrand Charles Alexander (1888 - 1965)

From the Wikipedia entry for his father, the 4th Earl of Caledon: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Alexander,_4th_Earl_of_Caledon

"Lt.-Col. Hon. Herbrand Charles Alexander DSO (28 November 1888 – 6 May 1965), who fought with the 5th Lancers during the First World War and was mentioned in despatches three times, and in the Second World War as a Lieutenant Colonel of the Pioneer Corps. He married, firstly, Millicent Meredyth, only daughter of Sir Henry Meredyth, 5th Baronet, in 1919 (divorced 1927), and had issue: (i) Denis Alexander, 6th Earl of Caledon. He married, secondly, the Hon. Ada Kate Bellew (who died in 1994), daughter of the late Hon. Richard Eustace Bellew and granddaughter of Edward Bellew, 2nd Baron Bellew, in 1937."

This would make him the older brother of Harold Alexander, the well-known commander of the 8th Army in the Second World War, afterwards Field Marshal the Right Honourable the Earl Alexander of Tunis: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Alexander,_1st_Earl_Alexande...

His mother was Lady Elizabeth Graham-Toler, daughter of Hector Graham-Toler, 3rd Earl of Norbury.

Google searches reveal an interest in horses and polo not unusual for a cavalry officer.

The Peerage page: thepeerage.com/p8033.htm

National Portrait Gallery images: www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp82960/hon-herb...

There are also a few mentions in the London Gazette and other places:

London Gazette, 26 January 1909, p. 663:
"The undermentioned University Candidates and Gentlemen Cadets from The Royal Military College to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 27th January, 1909 :--
CAVALRY.
[...]
5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, The Honourable Herbrand Charles Alexander, in succession to Lieutenant G. G. M. Tyrrell, promoted."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28218/pages/663/

Promoted Lieutenant, 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, 1 March 1910 (The Times, 9 May 1910)
www.newspapers.com/newspage/33252244/

London Gazette, 6 May 1910, p. 3164:
"War Office, Whitehall,
6th May, 1910.
REGULAR FORCES.
[...]
CAVALRY.
[...]
5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, Second Lieutenant The Honourable Herbrand C. Alexander to be Lieutenant, vice G. C. Juler, seconded. Dated 1st March, 1910."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28363/pages/3164/

Mentioned in Despatches by Field-Marshal J. D. P. French, see: London Gazette, 20 October 1914, p. 8380:
"LIST OF NAMES REFERRED TO IN DESPATCH DATED 8 OCTOBER, 1914.
[...]
5th Lancers.
Major J. B. Jardine, D.S.O.
Lieutenant B. W. Robinson.
Lieutenant Hon. H. C. Alexander.
Second Lieutenant W. H. Coulter.
Lieutenant T. De Burgh, Indian Army (attached).
Lieutenant Owen Gough, Indian Army (attached).
No. 5752 Serjeant C. Graham.
No. 4118 Corporal A. Davis.
No. 7130 Corporal R. Ware.
No. 6801 Corporal M. Shutt.
No. 5088 Lance-Corporal E. Wass.
No. 1914 Corporal D. G. Baker.
No. 5131 Corporal E. Grant.
No. 1961 Lance-Corporal G. Inch.
No. 2544 Lance-Corporal D. Mullock.
No. 7321 Serjeant F. D. Wyatt."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28945/pages/8380/

London Gazette, 12 December 1914, p. 10662:
5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, Lieutenant The Honourable Herbrand C. Alexander to be Captain. Dated 11th November, 1914
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29005/supplements/10662/

London Gazette, 11 February 1919, p. 2068:
"CAVALRY.
[...]
5th Lrs.-- Capt. the Hon. H. C. Alexander, D.S.O., relinquishes the actg. rank of Lt.-Col., and reverts to the actg. rank of Maj. whilst empld. as Maj. on Hd.-Qrs. of a Regt. 14th Dec. 1918."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31172/supplements/2068/

London Gazette, 1 November 1919, p. 13398:
"CAVALRY.
[...]
5th Lrs.-- Capt. the Hon. H. C. Alexander, D.S.O., to be actg. Maj., from 14th Dec. 1918 to 1st Apr. 1919"
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31626/supplements/13398/


London Gazette, 24 November 1922, p. 8299:
"REGIMENTAL LIST.
CAVALRY.
The undermentioned are transfd., and retain their present seniority: --
[...]
From 5th L.
[...]
The Hon. H. C. Alexander, D.S.O."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32770/pages/8299/

London Gazette, 9 March 1945, p. 1365:
"ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS.
[...]
16th/5th L.
Ret. Oftr. re-empld.
Maj. The Hon. H. C. Alexander, D.S.O. (59102) is granted the hon. rank of Lt.-Col., 14th Mar. 1945, on ceasing to be employed."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36977/supplements/1365/

The DSO:

Edinburgh Gazette, 8 January 1915, pp. 45-46:
"WAR OFFICE, January 1, 1915.
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the appointment of the undermentioned Officers to be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order, in recognition | of their services with the Expeditionary Force,
specified below :
Captain The Honourable Herbrand Charles Alexander, 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers.
Has done exceedingly good work in action, and in reconnaissance, since the commencement of the war."
www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/12759/pages/46/