Rank Colonel Service/branch British Army Name William Gordon Allegiance United Kingdom | Role Armed force officer Awards Victoria Cross | |
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Buried at St Alban's Churchyard, Hindhead Battles/wars Chitral Expedition
Tirah Campaign
Second Boer War
World War I Died March 10, 1941, Hindhead, United Kingdom Battles and wars Chitral Expedition, Tirah Campaign, Second Boer War, World War I | ||
Place of burial Hindhead, United Kingdom | ||
Lieutenant Colonel William Eagleson Gordon VC CBE (4 May 1866 – 10 March 1941) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He is the older brother of Archibald Alexander Gordon, who received the Legion of Honour and Order of Leopold.
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Citation
Gordon was 34 years old, and a Captain in the 1st Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place near Krugersdorp, South Africa for which he (together with Captain David Reginald Younger) were awarded the VC:
On the 11th July, 1900, during the action near Leehoehoek (or Doornbosch Fontein), near Krugersdorp, a party of men, accompanied by Captains Younger and Allan, having succeeded in dragging an artillery waggon under cover when its horses were unable to do so by reason of the heavy and accurate fire of the enemy, Captain Gordon called for volunteers to go out with him to try to bring in one of the guns. He went put alone to the nearest gun under a heavy fire, and with the greatest coolness fastened a drag-rope to the gun and then beckoned to the men, who immediately doubled out to join him in accordance with his previous instructions. While moving the gun, Captain Younger and three men were hit. Seeing that further attempts would only result in further casualties, Captain Gordon ordered the remainder of the party under cover of the kopje again, and, having seen the wounded safely away, himself retired. Captain Gordon's conduct, under a particularly heavy and most! accurate fire at only 850 yards range, was most admirable, and his manner of handling his men most masterly; his devotion on every occasion that his Battalion has been under fire has been remarkable.
His Victoria Cross is on display at the Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Military Career
Gordon joined the militia in 1886 as Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. In 1888 Gordon was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders. Gordon was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel in the Gordon Highlanders in 1907. Gordon also served as Aide-de-camp to King George V. On the 4th of May 1923 Gordon was placed on retired pay having achieved the rank of Major although as previously noted he was a brevet Lieutenant Colonel.