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Thomas Clement Long’s life was a classic rags-to-riches tale, shaped by ambition, reinvention, and the opportunities of the Transvaal gold rush. Born on 11 December 1859 in Canterbury, Kent, to Thomas and Emma Long, he came from modest beginnings. His father, listed in the 1861 census as a cordwainer, crafted fine leather shoes—a skilled but humble trade.

Early Life and Migration
The years between 1871 and his emigration to South Africa remain murky. Family accounts suggest that in 1878, at age 18, Thomas married Mary Gothard, a laundress of the same age. By the 1881 census, they had two children: Louisa Blanche Mary and Edward Thomas Henry. According to Ellen Warren (née Long), Thomas was working as a hotel porter when he left his family and sailed for Johannesburg.

However, the records from this period are tangled, and it’s unclear whether multiple individuals named Thomas Long have been conflated. What is certain is that Thomas arrived in Johannesburg and established Long’s Hotel at the northwest corner of Bree and Rissik Streets—a venture that would define his legacy.

Life in Johannesburg
Thomas lived with Sarah Davies, who was known at the hotel as “Mrs Long,” though they were never officially married. The reasons remain speculative—perhaps his marital status with Mary Gothard prevented it, or perhaps he simply chose not to. Regardless, Sarah became his closest companion and eventual sole heir.

Military Service
With the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899, Thomas left Johannesburg for Durban. On 8 December 1900, he enlisted in the Johannesburg Mounted Rifles, receiving the rank of Corporal and regimental number 555 in the second battalion.

The JMR saw intense action in 1901, particularly in the Springs district and later along the Zululand border. They endured skirmishes, raids, and column operations under Colonel Stewart, including the capture of a Boer laager at Amersfoort. Their efforts were chronicled in Two Years at the Front with the Mounted Infantry, the diary of Lieutenant B. Moeller, who was later mortally wounded in the Eastern Transvaal.

In September 1901, the JMR joined Gough’s Mounted Infantry in operations near the Natal border. A miscalculated advance toward Blood River led to a devastating ambush, forcing Gough’s force to surrender. Colonel Stewart’s tactical retreat was praised by Lord Kitchener for its prudence under pressure.

Final Years and Legacy
In 1903, sensing his health was failing, Thomas returned to England with Sarah to finalize his affairs. He signed a will leaving his entire estate to her. A year later, on 20 May 1904, he died of heart disease at Nurse Roberts’ Home in Durban.



Sarah Davies inherited his fortune—estimated at £3 million in today’s money—including Long’s Hotel and two properties on the Berea in Durban. In 1908, Thomas’s Queen’s South Africa Medal was officially issued to Sarah, confirming his entitlement to the South Africa 1901 clasp and noting his status as “deceased.”

What a fantastic story behind the medal, Sturgy. Many thanks for posting such a comprehensive biography.