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.
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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.
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: