Major Roland Elphinstone GORDON MC and Bar
C Battery, 251st (Northumbrian) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

Date of birth: 22nd January 1893
Date of death: 30th August 1918

Died of wounds aged 25
Buried at Daours Communal Cemetery Extension Plot VIII Row B Grave 3
He was born at Selangor, Straits Settlement on the 22nd of January 1893 the son of George Dalrymple Gordon, of the Government Irrigation Department, Ceylon, and Georgina Meredith (nee Williams) of “Alwyns”, Teignmouth in South Devon.

He was educated at the King’s School Canterbury from January 1907 to July 1911 where he was a Probationary Scholar. He was appointed as a School Monitor in 1913 and played in the 1st Cricket XI from 1909 to 1911, being Vice Captain in 1911. At the end of the 1911 season the Cantuarian recorded: -

"Hits very hard and was more nervous than he was last year, but has not much defence. Good field."

He played right centre three quarter for the Rugby 2nd XV in 1908, winning his 2nd XV colours on the 21st of December that year and played for the 1st XV from 1909 to 1911. He was member of the Fives Pair from 1909 to 1911 and was a member of the Sports Committee in 1910. In summary of his 1910/11 season on the rugby field the Cantuarian recorded: -

"(10st 6lbs right centre). Has found his place, and has improved out of all knowledge. Runs hard and straight with a good swerve, and makes good openings for his wing. Good tackler, but must learn to mark his man more closely."

In 1911 he gained 45th place in the examinations for entry to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich where he was Captain of the Rugby XV in 1912. He also represented both the Royal Artillery and the Army at rugby. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 20th of December 1912.

He played rugby for Blackheath and for Scotland at centre in three international matches. Against France at Parc des Princes on the 1st of January 1913, in which he scored two tries on his debut with Scotland winning 21-3. Against Wales at Inverleith on the 1st of February 1913, which Wales won 8-0 and against Ireland on the 22nd of February, also at Inverleith, with Scotland winning 29-14.

On the 5th of March 1913 he sailed for India where he was attached to 82nd Battery, 10th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery stationed at Kirki. In November 1914 his Brigade was posted to Mesopotamia and boarded the SS "Torilla" at 8.30am on the 8th of November and disembarked at Saihan on the 16th of November.

On the 27th of September 1915 the Brigade was involved in a major attack at Chahela where Roland Gordon was acting as Forward Observation Officer. The battery opened fire at 5.30am when the infantry went forward and before long they had taken all their objectives. The Battery went moved forward at the gallop at 10am which created large dust clouds and created much confusion. When the dust settled it became clear that the Turks had left their positions. Roland Gordon was badly wounded during the fighting and was evacuated back to England


During this time he wrote a letter home which was reproduced in the Cantuarian:-

"I expect you saw in the paper that I had been hit and I was really very lucky not to have been done in altogether. I was doing advanced observation officer with the infantry and took it in the chest sideways. It went in at the left side and stuck under the muscles of the right shoulder and did a certain amount of damage to my lungs. It missed various vital organs by very small margins. I have been in bed for over 3 weeks and am getting awfully sick of it. This hospital is not the last word in comfort, and I hope to be sent to India for a month or two soon. We carried off quite a good show at Es Sinn and are supposed to have accounted for 3,000 of the enemy with losses to ourselves of 1,200--the majority of whom are slightly wounded. We took quite a number of guns and rifles and quantities of ammunition as well. The weather here is now really arctic which is an enormous change from the 120-130 we have had in the shade."

While convalescing he instructed Royal Artillery cadets at Exeter and played rugby for the Cadet XV in the 1916-1917 season. He returned to the front and was awarded the Military Cross in June 1917, was wounded for a second time in November 1917 and for a third in May 1918. He was awarded a bar to his Military Cross in the King’s birthday honours list of the 3rd of June 1918. He was also mentioned in despatches. Following his wounding in May he was offered a posting in England but refused it, preferring instead to return to the front. He was one of fifteen officer posted to the 251st (Northumbrian) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery and joined them in the field at Lachy on the 21st of June 1918 where he was attached to C Battery.

In August 1918 he was wounded again. He was evacuated to 61 Casualty Clearing Station where he died from his wounds.

His mother received the following telegram dated the 15th of September 1918: -

"Deeply regret news received from France Major R.E. Gordon MC RFA died 2pm 30 August in 61 Casualty Clearing Station gunshot wound abdomen and back. Date of wound not yet known. Army Council tender deepest sympathy."

A friend wrote that he:-

"....was a really great three quarter, if I am any judge, as he was equally good in attack and defence- beautiful hands and a great kick. Only 25 years of age, and so, what a loss to the game! Besides all that, the best and dearest fellow alive."

He is commemorated on the war memorial at Teignmouth, on the memorial at Christchurch in Clevedon and on the memorial at Blackheath Football Club.

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