Today is the eightieth anniversary of this gallant Victorian soldier’s death as a result of injuries sustained in the bombing of the Naval and Military Club, Piccadilly, the so called ‘In and Out’ club, on the evening of November 4, 1940. A second retired officer, Major Arthur Harry Crozier had previously succumbed to his injuries on November 5, 1940. Gordon had served in the Malakand Field Force (which a soldier cum jobbing journalist called Churchill wrote about) in 1895 and the Tirah Expedition in 1897 before the Boer War, where he received his Victoria Cross for an action on 11 July 1900. I have seen references to officers being noted for early promotion but had not come across it being published in the Gazette before: LG27359 September 27, 1901 LG27992 February 5, 1907 Recognised with another brevet promotion and appointment as ADC to King George V: LG28778 December 2, 1913 Through no fault of his own he had had a rather chequered WW1, although his service was recognised with a CBE. The Graphic, September 12, 1914 He was captured leading his battalion and accompanying troops during a chaotic night withdrawal in the BEF’s retreat from Mons in September 1914. In November 1914 the Germans published an obviously fake ‘confession’ to the use of dum-dum ammunition attributed to him. The Daily Mirror, November 20, 1914. In early 1916, and said to be “in a condition of great weakness” in one account, he was controversially (for some) exchanged for Prince Salm-Salm in a deal brokered by King Alfonso of Spain. In 1917, a published account attributed to an escaped POW, Corporal George Mutch, falsely claimed that Gordon had ordered the surrender. This clearly incensed the Colonel who pursued a defamation action against the publisher through the Scottish courts into 1919 in consequence. TNA records – first four downloadable: WO 76/439 (folios 182 & 183) WO 76/440 (folios 62 & 63) WO 76/441 (folios 95 & 96) WO 372/8/71254 WO 374/28133 After three years on half pay, Gordon finally retired from the army on May 4, 1923 as a brevet Colonel and substantive Major, having given 35 years of service. Army List, January 1939
UK, Victoria Cross Medals, 1857-2007 Name: William Eagleson Gordon Birth Date: 4 May 1866 Birth Place: Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Scotland Death Date: 10 Mar 1941 Death Place: London TD
