Archibald Alexander Gordon
| Archibald Alexander Gordon CBE, MVO | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1867 Bridge of Allan, Scotland |
| Died |
12 August 1949 Bridge of Allan, Scotland |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 18?–1920 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Scots |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | See Table |
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.[1] He is the younger brother of William Eagleson Gordon, who was awarded the Victoria Cross.
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.[1][2] He was educated at Stanley House School, Bridge of Allan; Edinburgh Collegiate School and the University of Edinburgh.[1] In 1892 he married Maude, twin daughter of Major General Edmund Davidson-Smith, formerly Assistant Adjutant General of the Dublin district.[1] The couple had three children.[2]
- William Hyde Eagleson Gordon (23 August 1893 – 30 September 1915), served as lieutenant, 8th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.[3] Educated at Haileybury and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.[3] Died of wounds received at the Battle of Loos aged 22.[3] He is buried in the Étaples Military Cemetery, in the Pas de Calais, in grave I.B.17 along with 11,000 comrades.[3]
- Archibald George Ramsay Gordon (23 August 1893 – 26 December 1893), a twin with his elder brother.[2]
- Edmund Robert Adam Gordon (25 March 1896–), served as lieutenant with 1st battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.[2]
Army
Gordon served with the 9th (Highlanders), Royal Scots (Lowland Division) attaining the rank of major.[1] In 1896 he was appointed a member of the Royal Company of Archers, King's Bodyguard for Scotland.[1] He was promoted to captain on 6 August 1900.[4] From 1906 until his retirement in 1920 he served as private secretary to Arthur Wellesley, 4th Duke of Wellington.[1] He was honorary secretary of several British and international societies for which he held various awards.[1]
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).[1] From 1914 – 1919 he served as Belgian King's Messenger to King Albert I of Belgium.[1] He was cited in Belgian and French Army Orders of the Day.[1]
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:
 | Medal of French Gratitude 'Silver' | (France) 3 December 1920[5] |
| King Albert Medal | (Belgium) 18 August 1920[6] | |
 | Officer of the Legion of Honour | (France) 16 January 1920[7] |
 | Officer of the Instruction Publique (Golden Palms) | (France)[2] |
 | Officer of the Order of Leopold | (Belgium)[8] |
 | Commander of the Order of the Crown | (Belgium) 13 June 1919[9] |
 | Commander of the Order of Leopold II | (Belgium)[2] |
 | Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy | 29 November 1918[10] |
 | Knight of the Order of Saint Jago | (Portugal)[2] |
 | Knight of the Order of Isabella the Catholic | (Spain)[2] |
 | Croix de guerre (Palms) | (France)[11] |
 | Croix de guerre (Palms) | (Belgium) 31 July 1917[12] |
| Civic Cross First Class (Swords and Bar) | (Belgium)[2] | |
_Ribbon.png){kind=small} | Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) | 24 August 1917[13] |
 | Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) | 4th class, 1908[2] |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} | Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of Saint John (KStJ) | (Esquire 20 September 1898)[14] (Knight of Grace 19 December 1900)[15] |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Death of Notable Scots Officer". The Herald (Glasgow). 13 August 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Arthur Charles Fox-Davies (1929). Armorial families: a directory of gentlemen of coat-armour. Hurst & Blackett. p. 199.
- 1 2 3 4 "William Hyde Eagleson Gordon". Kent Archaeological Society. January 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 27222. p. 5179. 21 August 1900. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 13658. p. 2648. 7 December 1920. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32022. p. 8552. 18 August 1920. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31736. p. 701. 16 January 1920. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 12909. pp. 339–340. 28 February 1916. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 13462. p. 2133. 13 June 1919. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31039. p. 14096. 29 November 1918. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 13132. p. 1775. 24 August 1917. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30202. pp. 7589–7591. 24 July 1917. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30250. p. 8796. 24 August 1917. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 11024. p. 921. 20 September 1898. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32022. p. 8623. 21 December 1900. Retrieved 9 January 2014.