Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Second Lieutenant R. G. Gordon, 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, killed in action, 18 September 1918

British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.) good very fine (2) £120-160

Ronald Gordon Gordon was born in Chiswick on 21 December 1898, the son of Granville Dempster Gordon, Solicitor. He was educated at Harrow School, 1912-16 before entering the Royal Military College in February 1917. In the Spring of 1918 he was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment. He entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 1 August 1918, joining the 2nd Battalion at the front. He was killed in action on 18 September 1918 near St. Quentin when leading his platoon in a night attack - being shot through the head.

His Colonel wrote to his mother:

‘I deeply regret that your son lost his life leading his Platoon in a night attack. I met one of his men who was with him at the time, and he told me how your boy was leading the Platoon, when machine guns opened heavy fire on the other section. According to the man’s account your boy said, “That’s our objective and I’m going to get there” - he then rose and called on his men to follow him, but, though it was a most gallant deed, the enemy’s fire was too much, and the lad was soon hit. ......’

It is further recalled from the same biographical source, that in his last letter home, written the day before his death, he said that he was ‘having the time of his life.’

With copied service papers, m.i.c. and other research including a copied photograph. See lot 864 for his brother’s medals.