Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Longley gụrụ akwụkwọ na Cheltenham College, a họpụtara ya na East Surrey Regiment na 1887 ma jee ozi na South Africa na 1902, na njedebe nke Agha Boer nke Abụọ. N'afọ 1911, a họpụtara ya ka ọ bụrụ onye isi ndị agha nke 1st East Surreys ma ọ gara France n'ọnwa Ọgọst 1914 na mbido Agha Worldwa Mbụ, na-alụ ọgụ na agha Mons, Le Cateau, Marne, Aisne,
La Bassée na Armentières. Na mbido afọ 1915, a họpụtara ya ka ọ bụrụ ọchịagha nke 82nd Infantry Brigade na Disemba 1915, ya na ọkwa Major General, ọ ghọrọ General Officer Commanding 10th (Irish) Division.