Extracts and Comments
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Murray: Tirah 1897-98, 'B'Coy., severely wounded at Brandewan R. 30.1.1901, Captain Mtd. Inf. Coy. Gordon Highlanders 2.1900-1.1901, Mentioned in Despatches London Gazette 16.4.1901 Distinguished Service Order, Brevet Major, Queen's South Africa Medal and 6 clasps (Paard. Jbgh. DH & Witte.).
Source:# 40 IGS PF & Tirah QMI attached Gordons.
Source:# 139 'Boomerang' Mentioned in Despatches Tirah, WW1 Northern Rhodesia Regt., Order of the British Empire, Mentioned in Despatches 3 times.
B5172: Townsville Qld.
URL3: letter from front.
URL5: DSO LG 19.4.1901.
Source:# 1449 Robert GORDON born Townsville Qld. 22.12.1866, attended Brisbane Grammar School and High School Hobart Tas., appointed Provisional Lieut. QMI 11.6.1890, travelled to India arriving 9.1897 and attached to 1Bn. Gordon Highlanders fighting with them in the Tirah Campaign including storming the heights of Dargai. For this Lieut. GORDON was Mentioned in Despatches and received the IGSM with clasps Punjab Frontier and Tirah 1897-98 (engraved Lt. R GORDON Qld. Mtd. Infantry). Returning to Aust. in 1898 he was appointed to QDF Active List on 9.10.1899 and involved with selecting horses for 1QMI Contingent to S. Africa, joining that contingent on 22.10.1899 and serving with them at Magersfontein. On 22.2.1900 he transferred to D Coy. 1Bn. Gordon Highlanders MI as CO and served with 6MI under Col. de Lisle being promoted Capt. on 20.3.1900. Severely wounded in foot on the Brandiwine River near Clanwilliam on 29.1.1901 when ambushed while leading a dismounted patrol, he was invalided to Netley Hospital in Eng. Mentioned in Despatches for his actions in South Africa he was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, which was presented by King Edward VII in 6.1901. The DSO was promulgated in the London Gazette 19.4.1901 - "Robert Gordon Capt., Queensland Mounted Infantry. In recognition of services during operations in South Africa". His record of war services was listed as - South African War 1899 to 1901. Operations Cape Colony November 1899 to February 1900, Operations in Orange Free State February to May 1900 including action at Paardeberg 17th to 26th February, Poplar Grove 7th March, Vet River 5th and 6th May, Zand River 10th May, operations Transvaal May and June 1900 including actions near Johannesburg 29th May, Pretoria 4th and Diamond Hill 11th and 12th June, operations Orange River Colony July to 29th November 1900 including action at Wittebergen, operations Transvaal and Orange River Colony 30th November to January 1901 (severely wounded). He was issued a Queen's South Africa medal with clasps Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, Cape Colony and South Africa 1901 on 2nd June 1902 (19th May 1903 for the 1901 clasp) as recorded in the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlander roll with the remark QMI. In 1901 Major Robert Gordon was given an award at Victoria Barracks by Lord Lamington (Governor of Queensland 1896-1901). He retired from the 1st Contingent, Queensland Mounted Infantry on 5th October 1902. As a Major, Robert GORDON and was one of the officers instrumental in raising the Northern Rhodesian Rifles at the outbreak of WW1. Initially he commanded a unit involved in border raids against the Germans. Later when the Rifles were being used for garrison duties, he resigned and was appointed Intelligence Officer in German South-West Angolaland and on the borders of Northern Rhodesia, becoming head of Rhodesian Intelligence. A party of Germans of the Camel Corps were trying to break through from German South-West to German East Africa. Robert pursued and captured them with a party of Northern Rhodesian Scouts after they had penetrated far into Angola. For the latter part of the war, he commanded Remount Depots in British East Africa, at Mombasa and then Maktau, Daressalaam, Kilwa and Linde. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and Mentioned in Despatches (LG 8.2.1917 page 1353). The Supplementary medal roll for the 1914-15 Star for Northern Rhodesia Rifles (Scouts) shows him as Major DSO OBE s released from service on 15.8.1915. The Order of the British Empire was awarded to him in 1918 and he was created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1919. Robert GORDON retained his army interests throughout life. At age 70 in 1936 he was president of the "Old Gordons" association in Johannesburg, which he formed on 10.10.1936. He was mentioned in South Africa Who’s Who in 1940. No record of his passing has been found.
URL6: Captain GORDON (late of Townsville) is trying his hand at mining [at Gwelo, Rhodesia c11.1903], and although he still suffers from the wound received in the war, is quite capable of attending to business.
URL7: CENTRAL STATE SCHOOL. Some Early History NAMES ON THE FIRST ROLL. After operating in two distinct entities for boys and girls for a period of 60 years the Central State School has reverted to the system of combined education. The amalgamation took place as from June 30 [1936], under the supervision of Mr. RE MELBUSCH, who came from Mareeba to inaugurate it. The Central School has a colorful history in the annals of Townsville. It was the first school to be established here and numbers among its part pupils some of the city's oldest identities living. ... Robert GORDON, of another family, appears later on in the roll. His career is well known as a soldier of distinction in the Boer War. It was Bob Gordon, too, who inaugurated the export trade of horses to India, later carried on successfully by the late Mr. JS LOVE. Bob GORDON has since returned to South Africa and settled there.
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