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Archibald Alexander Gordon

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Allegiance
  
United Kingdom

Name
  
Archibald Gordon

Unit
  
Royal Scots

Awards
  
See Table

Rank
  
Major

Battles/wars
  
First World War

Service/branch
  
British Army

Years of service
  
18?–1920

Battles and wars
  
World War I


Died
  
August 12, 1949, Bridge of Allan, United Kingdom

Major Archibald Alexander Gordon CBE, MVO, Order of Leopold, Legion of Honour (1867 – 12 August 1949) was a British soldier who served as attaché to the Military Household of King Albert I of Belgium during World War I, with the title of Belgian King's Messenger. He is the younger brother of William Eagleson Gordon, who was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Contents

Early life

Archibald Alexander Gordon was born in Bridge of Allan, Scotland in 1867, the second son of Dr William Eagleston Gordon and Emily Maryann Dick. He was educated at Stanley House School, Bridge of Allan; Edinburgh Collegiate School and the University of Edinburgh. In 1892 he married Maude, twin daughter of Major General Edmund Davidson-Smith, formerly Assistant Adjutant General of the Dublin district. The couple had three children.

  • William Hyde Eagleson Gordon (23 August 1893 – 30 September 1915), served as lieutenant, 8th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. Educated at Haileybury and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Died of wounds received at the Battle of Loos aged 22. He is buried in the Étaples Military Cemetery, in the Pas de Calais, in grave I.B.17 along with 11,000 comrades.
  • Archibald George Ramsay Gordon (23 August 1893 – 26 December 1893), a twin with his elder brother.
  • Edmund Robert Adam Gordon (25 March 1896–), served as lieutenant with 1st battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
  • Army

    Gordon served with the 9th (Highlanders), Royal Scots (Lowland Division) attaining the rank of major. In 1896 he was appointed a member of the Royal Company of Archers, King's Bodyguard for Scotland. He was promoted to captain on 6 August 1900. From 1906 until his retirement in 1920 he served as private secretary to Arthur Wellesley, 4th Duke of Wellington. He was honorary secretary of several British and international societies for which he held various awards.

    During World War I he served as a major on special service and was with the staff of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division at the Siege of Antwerp (1914). From 1914 – 1919 he served as Belgian King's Messenger to King Albert I of Belgium. He was cited in Belgian and French Army Orders of the Day.

    Autobiography

    In 1941 he published his memoirs, Culled from a Diary (1867 – 1939), published by Oliver and Boyd, with a foreword by Lord Mottistone.

    Honours

    The following table shows the honours awarded to Gordon:

    References

    Archibald Alexander Gordon Wikipedia