Informations sur naissance

Date de naissance:
02/06/1890
Lieu de naissance:
Wick, Caithness, Écosse, Royaume-Uni

Informations générales

Profession:
Epicier

Informations service militaire

Pays:
Écosse, Royaume-Uni
Force armée:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Numéro de service:
s/9654
Incorporation nom de lieu:
Stirling, Stirlingshire, Écosse, Royaume-Uni
Unités:
 —  Princess Louise’s (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders), 1/7th Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Informations sur décès

Date de décès:
06/08/1917
Lieu de décès:
Ferdinand Farm, Belgique
Cause du décès:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Âge:
27

Mémorial

Distinctions et médailles 2

British War Medal
Médaille
Victory Medal
Médaille

Points d'intérêt 2

#1 Lieu de naissance
#2 Lieu d'enrôlement

Mon histoire

Alexander Gordon was born in 1890 in the small village of Keiss, Caithness near the town of Wick in the far north of Scotland. He married his wife Euphemia in 1912. They had two children together; William and Margaret. Before he enlisted, Alexander worked as a grocer in Edinburgh, where he lived with his family.

Alexander enlisted in Stirling, Stirlingshire and eventually joined the 7th Battalion Princess Louise’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, which became part of the 154th Brigade of the 51st (Highland) Division.

From 31 July 1917 onwards, his Battalion participated in the Battle of Pilkem Ridge, the opening stage of the Battle of Passchendaele. The attack had three objectives: the Blue line, the Black line and the Green line, the Green Line being the final objective along the Steenbeek stream, just north of St Julien. On the 31st of July, the 152nd and 153rd Brigades of the 51st Division attacked, while the 154th Brigade was in reserve. All three objectives were won.

On August 2nd, the 154th Brigade was sent out to relieve the 152nd and 153rd Brigades along the Steenbeek stream. One Company of the 7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders remained in the old British frontline. The three other Companies were placed along the Canal Bank.

During the night between the 4th and 5th of August, the 7th Battalion relieved the 9th Battalion, Royal Scots in the frontline near Ferdinand Farm. The Battalion stayed there until they were relieved on the night of the 7th/8th.

On the 6th of August 1917, the day Private Alexander Gordon was killed, the 7th Battalion endured very heavy shelling. On the fateful day, three men of the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were killed in action, amongst whom Private Gordon. Alexander was 27 years old and left behind a young family. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Fichiers 1

Sources 4

Ancestry
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/
Sources utilisées
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/931313/gordon,-alexander/
Sources utilisées
Long Long Trail
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/
Sources utilisées
War Diary
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Sources utilisées