The Gordon War Memorial stands at the East End of the village, at the crossroads, as a permanent tribute to those from the Gordon parish who gave their lives in the service of their country. The names inscribed upon it represent sons, husbands, and fathers from this community and the surrounding area.
Lest We Forget
1914 – 1918
BRUNTON, James
Private, 1/4th Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
He died in Gallipoli on 17th July 1915 of wounds received in the “Charge” on 12th July 1915 on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He was the son of Thomas and Mary Brunton of Haymount, Kelso and is buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military Cemetery, Egypt.
CALLANDER, William
Private, 1/4th Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
He was killed in action in Palestine on 19th April 1917 in the attack on Ali Muntar hill during the 1st Battle of Gaza and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel. On that day the Battalion suffered casualties of 6 Officers and 44 Other Ranks killed with 9 Officers and 152 Other Ranks wounded.
CALLANDER, Fred Kellor
Private, 1/4th Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
He was killed in action in Gallipoli on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
COCHRANE, James
Sergeant Major, 6th Bn Royal Irish Rifles
He died of wounds on 8th August 1915 in Gallipoli, aged 36. He was the son of Andrew Cochrane and the husband of Elizabeth Cochrane of Leinster Road, Rathmines, Dublin. He was buried in New Zealand No 2 Outpost Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.
CRAIG, Archibald
Private, 6th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers
He was killed in action in France on 8th September 1915 whilst the Battalion was holding the line in the La Bassée sector, aged 23. He was the son of Margaret Tait (ex Craig) of Middlethird, Gordon and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
CRUICKSHANK, James
Private, Cameron Highlanders
Son of James and Annie Eirth Cruickshank. Born at Edinburgh.
DALGLEISH, Simon
Lance Corporal, 1/4th Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
He was killed in the successful attack on El Mughar, Palestine on 13th November 1917. He was the son of James and Jane Dalgleish of Huntly Wood, Earlston and is buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Palestine (now Israel). In this attack the Battalion suffered casualties of 4 Officers and 31 Other Ranks killed and 9 Officers and 138 Other Ranks wounded. 300 Turkish prisoners were taken.
DILLON, Arthur Howard
Private, 2nd Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
He was killed in action in France on 20th April 1917, aged 20, during the Battle of Arras. He was the son of Patrick and Agnes Dillon of Gordon and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
EDWARDS, William Hardinge Colvin
Lieutenant MC, 1st Battalion, Black Watch — Mentioned in Dispatches
He was a Regular soldier and was killed in action in France at the Rue des Bois on 9th May 1915 during the Battle of Aubers Ridge, aged 21. He was the son of Major General Alfred Edwards, K.B.E. C.B. M.V.O. and Lady Edwards, O.B.E. of Ridgemount, Peaslake, Gomshall, and is buried in Rue-Des Berceux Military Cemetery, Richebourg-Lavoué, Pas de Calais, France.
Despite great bravery the attack failed due to uncut wire and an inadequate artillery bombardment. Some men did force a way into the German lines but were too few in number to affect the outcome. Casualties were very heavy.
FORBES, Henry William
Sergeant, 16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) — Canadian Scottish
He was killed in action in Belgium during the Second Battle of Ypres on 27th April 1915, aged 35. He was the son of Arthur and Mary Forbes of Mellerstain, Gordon and is buried in Hazebrouck War Cemetery, France. Before the war he was a Water Inspector in Canada with the Canadian Pacific Railroad and had lived in Vancouver for five years.
GIBSON, Richard
Private, 12th Battalion, Royal Scots
He was killed in action in France during the Battle of Arras on 3rd May 1917 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. He fell in an attack near Monchy which enabled a cut-off portion of 6th K.O.S.B. to return to British lines. Casualties were heavy at 124 All Ranks. This was the last large-scale action in the battle.
HENDERSON, George Stuart
Captain V.C., D.S.O. and Bar, M.C. — 5 times Mentioned in Dispatches — 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment
He was one of Scotland’s most decorated soldiers and was killed in action on 24th July 1920, aged 26. He was the son of Robert and Mary Henderson of Mount Hooley, Jedburgh and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. His Victoria Cross citation reads as follows:
His name is also on the Jedburgh War Memorial.
HENDERSON, Kenneth Selby
Captain, No.1 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
He was killed in action in France on 2nd June 1918, aged 24. He was the son of John and Alice Henderson of Jedburgh and Yaraka, Queensland, Australia and is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, France. No.1 Squadron flew SE5As and had 31 victories (an ace had at least 5 confirmed air victories).
HENDERSON, Noel Charles
2nd Lieutenant, “D” Company, 2nd Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
He was killed in action in France on 9th October 1915 during the Battle of Loos, aged 20. He was the son of George and Mary Henderson of Kensington, London and is buried in the Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France.
MALLEN, John
Private, 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards
He was killed in France on 12th March 1917, aged 37. He was the son of John and Margaret Mallen of Gordon and is buried in Sailly-Saillisel British Cemetery, France. On that date 2nd Scots Guards were relieved in the trenches near Sailly-Saillisel by 2nd Coldstream Guards.
MESSER, James
Sergeant, 2/4th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers
He died at home on 24th February 1916 and is buried in Gordon Churchyard.
ORMSTON, Thomas John
Private, 2nd Battalion, Black Watch
He was killed in action in Mesopotamia on 21st January 1916 and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.
PATTERSON, John
Private, 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers
He was killed in action on 19th April 1917 in Palestine, aged 24. He fell in the attack on El Mughar during the Second Battle of Gaza. He was the son of Thomas and Alice Patterson of Middlethird, Gordon and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Palestine.
REDPATH, William
Private, 4th Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 28th June 1915 during the Battle of Krithia, aged 28. Born and resident in Greenlaw, he enlisted in Edinburgh. He was the son of William and Agnes Redpath of Crumrigg, Greenlaw, Berwickshire. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey (Panel 26 to 30).
SCOTT, Andrew
Private, 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers
He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah, aged 21. He was the son of Isabella Scott of Primside, Yetholm, Roxburghshire and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
WALDIE, George
Corporal, Base Depot, Army Ordnance Corps
He died in Roseneath Military Hospital, Wrexham, aged 35, on 12th February 1918 and is buried in Gordon Churchyard. He was the son of Robert and Margaret Waldie of Gordon and had enlisted in Edinburgh.
WEIR, James
Lance Corporal, 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
He was killed in action during the Battle of Loos on 29th September 1915, aged 20. He was the son of Samuel and Euphemia Weir of Woodend, Duns and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. The 11th Argylls were part of the 15th (Scottish) Division.
1939 – 1945
BEGBIE, Thomas
Private, 2nd Bn Royal Scots
Died 8th November 1940, aged 22. Husband of Davina Sinclair Begbie, of Bo’ness, West Lothian. Buried in Hong Kong Cemetery, Sec. 16D. 9957.
“God’s greatest gift, Remembrance.”
BELL, John
Sergeant (Observer), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve — 40 Squadron RAF
Killed in action on 31st December 1942 while flying air operations in the Mediterranean. Born in Stitchill, he was the son of Isabella and the late William Bell of Byrewalls, Gordon. His squadron flew the Vickers Wellington Mark III and was, at the time of his death, flying bombing raids on Tunisia and other targets around the Mediterranean from Luqa airfield on Malta.
BRYCE, Adam Veitch
Leading Aircraftsman, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve — 526 Squadron
Adam died tragically on 22nd March 1945, aged 36, as he was going on leave to see his newborn son, David. He was one of three passengers in Bristol Blenheim Z7356 which crashed into the side of Braeriach in the Cairngorms. The aircraft was on a transit flight from Digby in Lincolnshire to its home base at Longman airfield near Inverness. The aircraft broke up on impact and all six men on board were killed.
- Pilot — WO Charles Henry Fletcher
- Navigator — F/O John Eric Shaw
- Wireless Operator / Air Gunner — F/O Stanley Charles Gale
- Passenger — Cpl John Michie
- Passenger — LAC Angus McIntosh Fulton
- Passenger — LAC Adam Veitch Bryce RAFVR
Buried Gordon Cemetery, Grave 34. Son of James and Marion Hunter Bryce; husband of Allison Little Bryce and father of David Bryce, of Gordon.
CROSBY, John Henry
Private, 2nd Bn Royal Scots
Killed in action in Italy on 21st September 1944, aged 20. Son of Alfred H. and Isabella M. Crosby of Earlston, Berwickshire. Buried in Florence War Cemetery II. A. 16.
“Until the day break and the shadows flee away, we will remember you.”
DAVIDSON, John
Private, Durham Light Infantry
Died of wounds on 6th June 1940, aged 21, on withdrawal to Dunkirk. Buried at Dunkirk Town Cemetery.
DOUGLAS, Archibald Gordon
Flight Lieutenant, 10 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Aged 26. On 6th September 1943, on a bombing mission to Munich, his Halifax II bomber JD166 was shot down by a German night fighter and crashed at Leeder, south-west of Munich. Archie (Pilot) and Sgt P.C. (“Paddy”) O’Kill (rear gunner) were killed; the other five crew members baled out and were taken prisoner.
Son of George and Elizabeth Sutherland Douglas and husband of Alexandra Douglas, of Gordon. Interred at Durnbach War Cemetery, Joint Grave 5. K. 19–20.
FORD, George
Corporal, 2nd Bn Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)
Aged 29. Following the fall of Hong Kong, George Ford was lost on the SS Lisbon Maru on 1st–2nd October 1942. The Japanese transport was damaged by torpedoes from the US submarine Grouper, whose captain was unaware that 1,800 British prisoners of war were being held below decks. Of those, 846 died. Among the Royal Scots, 183 POWs died in the sinking — many more than the 107 killed in the whole of the battle for Hong Kong.
Commemorated at Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong.
GIBSON, Richard
Lance Corporal, 2nd Bn Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)
As with George Ford, Richard Gibson, aged 27, was lost on 1st–2nd October 1942 as a result of the sinking of the SS Lisbon Maru. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gibson of Gordon, Berwickshire. Commemorated at Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong.
STUMBLES, Andrew Wright
Sergeant, Royal Air Force
Died 4th December 1945. Son of George and Isabella Stumbles; husband of Elsie Florence Stumbles. Commemorated at Edinburgh (Warriston) Crematorium.
VERT, Richard Fowler
Senior Third Engineering Officer, Merchant Navy
He was lost at sea aboard the M.V. Pacific President on 2nd December 1940, aged 22. He was the son of William and Joanna Vert of Gordon and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
The ship, of 7,113 tons, was built by Furness, Withy & Co. in 1928 and was in transit from Leith to Oban and then to New York, in ballast, when it was torpedoed by U-43 and sank with all 51 crew lost. The U-Boat was herself sunk on 30th July 1943 by an Avenger torpedo plane from the USS Santee.
Richard Vert had served his engineering apprenticeship with Messrs Bryce of Gordon. He had been educated at the Berwickshire High School, Duns and is also commemorated on the Memorial Tablet placed in the new High School, Duns.
YULE, George Henry
Private, 1st Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Killed in action 27th May 1940, aged 21. In late 1939 the Battalion set sail for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (3rd Infantry Division). In May 1940 they crossed the Belgian frontier and were ordered to withdraw from the overwhelming enemy advance. Between 31st May and 1st June 1940 the Battalion was evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk.
Son of Margaret Yule of Greenlaw, Berwickshire. Buried at Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Plot 8, Row C, Grave 61.
“When you go home, tell them of us and say,
for your tomorrow, we gave our today.” — John Maxwell Edmunds, 1916