William Eagleson Gordon

William Eagleson Gordon VC CBE (4 May 1866 -10 March 1941) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 34 years old, and a captain in the 1st Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, British Army during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 11 July 1900 near Krugersdorp, South Africa, a party of men had succeeded in dragging an artillery waggon under cover when its horses were unable to do so, because of heavy and accurate firing by the enemy. Captain Gordon then went out alone to the nearest gun under heavy fire and then having fastened a drag rope to the gun, he called for volunteers to come and help. While the gun was being moved, however, a captain (David Reginald Younger) and three men were hit, and to save further casualties, Captain Gordon ordered the remainder of the party to take cover, and having seen the wounded safely away, he himself retired.

Further information

*He later achieved the rank of colonel and served in World War I.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is on display at the [http://www.gordonhighlanders.com/ Gordon Highlanders Museum] Aberdeen, Scotland.

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
*Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/surrey.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Surrey)"