# Desmond Longe

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{{Short description|British Army Major}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Desmond Evelyn Longe
|image= Major_Desmond_Longe,_DL_(Chairman,_Norwich_Union).png
|caption=
|birth_date={{Birth date|df=yes|1914|08|08|}}
|death_date={{Death date|df=yes|1990|02|19|}} (age 75 years)
|burial_label=
|burial_place=
|birth_place=[Norfolk](/source/Norfolk%2C_England), [England](/source/England%2C_United_Kingdom)
|death_place=
|burial_coordinates = 
|other_name= Refraction (codename)
|birth_name=Desmond Evelyn Longe
|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}<br>{{flag|France}}
|branch={{army|United Kingdom}}<br>[Special Operations Executive](/source/Special_Operations_Executive)
|service_years=1939–1945
|rank= [Major](/source/Major_(United_Kingdom))
|service_number=156248
|unit= [Norfolk Regiment](/source/Norfolk_Regiment)
|commands= [Commander of Mission Eucalyptus](/source/List_of_Special_Operations_Executive_operations)
|battles=[World War II](/source/World_War_II)
|battles_label=
|awards=[Military Cross](/source/Military_Cross)<br>[War Medal 1939-1945](/source/War_Medal_1939-1945)<br>[1939-1945 Star](/source/1939-1945_Star)<br>[High Sheriff of Norfolk](/source/High_Sheriff_of_Norfolk)<br>[Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk](/source/Deputy_Lieutenant)
|relations=
|other_work=
}}

[Major](/source/Major_(United_Kingdom)) '''Desmond Evelyn Longe''', [MC](/source/Military_Cross),<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45439 |date= 3 August 1971|page=8346|city=London|title=DEPUTY LIEUTENANT COMMISSIONS}} [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45439/page/8346/data.pdf]</ref> [DL](/source/Deputy_Lieutenant), (8 August 1914 – 19 February 1990) was a [British Army](/source/British_Army_during_the_Second_World_War) [Major](/source/Major_(United_Kingdom)), S.O.E agent and Commander of the [Inter-Allied](/source/Special_Operations_Executive) mission, [Eucalyptus](/source/List_of_Special_Operations_Executive_operations).

== Early life and family ==
Longe was born the son of the Rev. Charles Longe of [Spixworth Park](/source/Spixworth_Park), [Norfolk](/source/Norfolk), [England](/source/England)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/whitakerspeerage00unse_17/whitakerspeerage00unse_17_djvu.txt|title=Full text of "Whitaker's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage"}}</ref> and educated at [Woodbridge School](/source/Woodbridge_School), [Suffolk](/source/Suffolk). Longe worked as a [bank clerk](/source/bank_clerk) in [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica) before spending the majority of his wartime service in [West Africa](/source/West_Africa), [India](/source/India) and [Vassieux-en-Vercors](/source/Vassieux-en-Vercors) in the department of [Drôme](/source/Dr%C3%B4me) in southeastern France.<ref name="auto">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wGtECwAAQBAJ|title=Fighters in the Shadows: A New History of the French Resistance|first=Robert|last=Gildea|date=30 November 2015|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=9780674915022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aL7d9XKoKlsC|title=A Pacifist at War: The Silence of Francis Cammaerts|first=Ray|last=Jenkins|date=1 January 2010|publisher=Arrow|isbn=9780099525134}}</ref>

== World War II ==
During the war, Longe served in the [British Army](/source/British_Army_during_the_Second_World_War) as part of the clandestine [Special Operations Executive](/source/Special_Operations_Executive) (SOE). He served in West Africa, Middle East, Far East and North Western Europe. Longe was the commander of the Inter-Allied Mission [Eucalyptus](/source/List_of_Special_Operations_Executive_operations).

=== Mission Eucalyptus ===
In 1944, Longe was named commander of the Inter-Allied Mission codenamed ["Eucalyptus](/source/List_of_Special_Operations_Executive_operations)." On the night of 28/29 June 1944, Longe and his team parachuted into a field in the French commune of [Vassieux-en-Vercors](/source/Vassieux-en-Vercors) in the department of [Drôme](/source/Dr%C3%B4me) in southeastern France. Their task was to train the [Maquis](/source/Maquis_du_Vercors) (rural resistance fighters) of the [Vercors Massif](/source/Vercors_Massif) in the use of parachuted weapons and in guerrilla-style combat as well as seeking suitable landing and parachute drop zones for airborne operations.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WBzOAwAAQBAJ|title=Silent Skies: Gliders at War 1939-1945|first=Tim|last=Lynch|date=30 August 2008|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=9781844157365}}</ref> The mission comprised Commander, Major Desmond Longe and his second in command, John Houseman (codename: 'Reflection'),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/categories/c55673/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510053150/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/categories/c55673/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 May 2019|title=BBC - WW2 People's War - John Houseman's Diary - Mission Eucalyptus Category}}</ref> a former estate agent. Also aiding the mission were three subsequent officers, including 2 radio officers: Franco-American OSS agent, Andre Pecquet (codename: 'Paray') and Frenchman, Phillipe Saillard (codename: 'Touareg'). Longe located the mission near Saint-Martin-en-Vercors on 10 July 1944 where it was strengthened by three French officers, including Adrien Conus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://museedelaresistanceenligne.org/media7530-Mission-Eucalyptus|title=Musée de la résistance en ligne}}</ref>

Eucalyptus immediately ran into difficulty. The SOE leader in southeastern France, [Francis Cammaerts](/source/Francis_Cammaerts), was furious that Longe and his team had been sent to Vercors without his knowledge and permission. Moreover, Longe spoke little French and Houseman none, which limited their usefulness. The training of the maquis by Longe and others and air drops of arms and supplies proved inadequate when the German army launched an all-out attack on the Vercos Massif on 21 July and the maquis were quickly defeated and dispersed. After a few days hiding out in the forests, Longe and Houseman with maquis guides began a trek on foot to [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland) and safety, crossing the border on 11 August. After their escape, rumors circulated that Longe and Houseman had fled in the face of the enemy. Longe demanded a court of inquiry which decided that his behavior had been appropriate and justified. However, Cammaerts refused to apologize for having said Longe "ran away."<ref name="Foot">{{cite book |last1=Foot |first1=M. R. D. |title=SOE in France |date=1976 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |location=London |isbn=0116301929 |pages=Kindle location 9615–9624}}. First published in 1966.</ref><ref name="Jenkins">{{cite book |last1=Jenkins |first1=Ray |title=A Pacifist at War |date=2009 |publisher=Hutchison |location=London |isbn=978-0091925574 |pages=150–165}}</ref>
thumb|right|Major Desmond Longe, Commander of Mission Eucalyptus

==Honours and awards==

On 19 July 1945, Longe was awarded the Military Cross by [King George VI](/source/George_VI_of_the_United_Kingdom) for ''gallantry during active operations against the enemy''.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7396639 |title = Catalogue description Recommendation for Award for Longe, Desmond Rank: Major Service No: 156248}}</ref>

<div class="center">
{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Military Cross ribbon.png|width=93}}
{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=39-45 Star BAR.svg|width=103}}
{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=War Medal 1939–1945 (UK) ribbon.png|width=93}}
{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with palm (France) - ribbon bar.png|width=106px}}
</div>

{|class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| [Military Cross](/source/Military_Cross)
|[1939–1945 Star](/source/1939%E2%80%931945_Star)
|[War Medal](/source/War_Medal_1939%E2%80%931945)
|[Croix de guerre avec palme 1939–1945](/source/Croix_de_guerre_1939%E2%80%931945_(France)) 
|}

== Personal life ==
Longe served as President of [Norwich Union Insurance](/source/Norwich_Union_Insurance_Limited) in the 1970s and later chairman in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://joemasonspage.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/spixworth-2/|title=SPIXWORTH|last=joemasonspage|date=18 March 2013}}</ref> Longe was appointed [High Sheriff of Norfolk](/source/High_Sheriff_of_Norfolk) in 1975.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=46524 |date=21 March 1975|page=3843|city=London}}</ref> In 1980, Longe served as President of the [Royal Norfolk Show](/source/Royal_Norfolk_Show).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://royalnorfolkshow.rnaa.org.uk|title=Home - Royal Norfolk Show}}</ref> Longe was appointed as Director of Schiedam Insurance, Netherlands and Director of Scottish Union and National Insurance Co.

== Books ==
Longe has been mentioned in the following books:

* Setting France Ablaze: The SOE in France During WWII (by Peter Jacobs)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J_xyCgAAQBAJ&q=major+desmond+longe+%28page%3D+199&pg=PA199|title = Setting France Ablaze: The SOE in France During WWII|isbn = 9781783463367|last1 = Jacobs|first1 = Peter|date = 30 September 2015}}</ref>
* A Pacifist at War: The Silence of Francis Cammaerts (by Ray Jenkins)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aL7d9XKoKlsC&q=major+desmond+longe&pg=PA159 |page= 159|title= A Pacifist at War: The Silence of Francis Cammaerts|isbn= 9780099525134|last1= Jenkins|first1= Ray|author2= Ray|year= 2010}}</ref>
* Fighters in the Shadows: A New History of the French Resistance (by Robert Gildea)<ref name="auto"/>
* Vercors 1944: Resistance in the French Alps (by Peter Lieb)<ref>{{cite book|title=Vercors 1944: Resistance in the French Alps|first=Peter|last=Lieb|date=18 December 2012|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn = 978-1849086981}}</ref>
* In Search of the Maquis: Rural Resistance in Southern France 1942-1944 (by H. R. Kedward)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mIJdOCh3_gkC&q=major+desmond+longe&pg=PA178 |page= 178|title= In Search of the Maquis : Rural Resistance in Southern France 1942-1944: Rural Resistance in Southern France 1942-1944|isbn= 9780191591785|last1= Kedward|first1= H. R.|date= 11 March 1993}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Longe, Desmond}}
Category:British Special Operations Executive personnel
Category:1914 births
Category:1990 deaths
Category:Recipients of the Military Cross
Category:British recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Desmond Longe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Longe) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Longe?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.