Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Flanders | Panel 5. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.123 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 21B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
He was born on 15th October 1881 and was the son of Revd. Alexander and Maria Gordon of 35, Rosemary Street, Belfast. His father was a Unitarian Minister in Belfast.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 12th (Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers |
12th (Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers August 1914 : at Norwich, part of 5th Cavalry Brigade. Moved to France. 6 September 1914 : Brigade transferred to Gough's Command. 13 September 1914 : Gough's Command renamed as 2nd Cavalry Division. |
| Action : The Battles of Ypres 1915 (Second Ypres) |
22 April - 25 May 1915. On the 22nd April 1915 the Germans used poison gas at Ypres. This was the first 'official' use of gas and took the Allies by surprise. After initial success capitalising on the confusion and horror of this weapon, a heroic stand, initially by the Canadians and then supported by British and Indian Battalions, held the German advance. However it became clear that the Germans had achieved a tactical advantage and eventually the British were forced to retire to more a more defendable perimeter closer to Ypres. These positions were on the last ridges before Ypres and their loss would have resulted in the loss of the town and possibly open the Channel coast to German occupation with disastrous consequences for the re-supply of the BEF.
He passed into the Indian Civil Service in 1904. After initial service in Assam he was appointed Assistant Commissioner in the Punjab.
He served five years with the Punjab Light Horse, Indian Volunteers rising from Lieutenant to Captain.
At the outbreak of war he was on leave in England and entered the Indian Army Reserve of Officers. He then received his commission with the 12th Lancers, gazetted 4th September 1914.
Detail :
Citations & Commemorations :
The Lieutenant Governor of Punjab in a letter to the Punjab Gazette wrote of the difficult and dangerous situations which he had had to face in the pursuance of his duty, and which he had always met with an intrepid coolness. He described him as a gallant officer and a fearless gentleman. His civil service record indicated a man of courage and character with the promise of even greater distinction than he had already achieved.Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Light of the North No. 1308 E.C. | Northern India |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
3rd July 1909 | 7th August 1909 | 4th September 1909 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley