H.M.S. 'President III' was an Accounting Base, a resurrection of a World War I name. It started its new life at Bristol in 1939 and in due course had offices at Windsor and London too. It was responsible for drafting, paying and otherwise looking after men who served on DEMS - Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships. These ships were fitted with whatever guns might be available and suitable, primarily for defence against air attack but also to counter submarine surface and other surface vessel attack. Gun crews were supplied by the Royal Navy (or in some cases by Maritime Artillery Regiments of the Royal Artillery).
Source: Richard Goring
Jack Long is remembered in Chester-le-Street on C105.05 page 10, C105.38 and C105.40 and on our List of Ships’ crews
