3rd Reserve Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Alexander Weston Gordon was born on 29 July 1859 in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland and was the third son of General John Gordon CB (Indian Army) of the Cairnbulg family, and Mary Madeleine Roberts. His paternal grandfather, George Hamilton Gordon, was the 3rd Earl of Aberdeen, and he comes from a long line with military connections.
His siblings were John (5 November 1850 – 14 June 1887) ; Arthur Neill (31 December 1857 -22 November 1944); and Sarah Madaleine Sempill (6 August 1864 – 20 February 1940).
John and Neill, who both served in the military, died in India. Their sister Sarah, who lived for many years with her mother, died in Cheltenham.
As Captain in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Alexander got married in St Andrew’s, Walcot Bath to Katherine Fanny on 17 September 1892. He was the youngest son of General John Gordon CB JP, Bengal Army of Overcourt, Bisley, Gloucestershire. Katherine was the younger daughter of the late Colonel Albert O’Halloran Clay, Madras Staff Corps, and granddaughter of the late Captain James Gordon JP and DL of Ivy Hank, Nairn, who served in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders Regiment of Foot.
Their son, Charles Alexander Cosmo was born on 26 March 1895 in Quetta, Bengal, India.
Alexander was an Ensign in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 1 May 1878 and served in the Afghan War 1879-1880 when he received a medal and clasp.
The Morning Post, dated 28 February 1881, reported that Alexander, of the 102nd Foot, had ceased to be a probationer for Indian Staff Corps and had been promoted to Second Lieutenant. On 12 March 1881, he became Lieutenant and rose to Captain on 1 July 1887; Major on 5 January 1895 and became a Brevet Lieutenant Colonel on 29 November 1900.
He served in the South African War 1899-1902 during the relief of Ladysmith and was severely wounded at the Battle of Colenso which was the third and final battle fought during the Black Week of the Second Boer War.
He was mentioned in despatches in the London Gazette on 10 September 1901 for the achievement of being awarded the Queen’s Medal, two clasps, and the King’s Medal, two clasps.
He retired in 1907, and on 2 April 1911 he was resident with his wife, daughter Katherine Napier who was a Governess, and two servants at house 8 Grange West, Fermoy Rural, Cork, Ireland. His widow gave her address as Weston, Fermoy, Co Cork at the time of his death.
I have not found a record of his return to service during WW1 but he was a Brevet Lieutenant Colonel in the 3rd Battalion of the Princess Victoria’s Royal Irish Fusiliers at the time of his death, therefore he rejoined his old unit.
He was resident at the Royal Nursing Home, Chel tenham at the time of his death on 20 December 1918, aged 59 years. His death was reported in the Gloucestershire Echo on 21 December, when it stated he died from illness contracted on service and was serving in the 3rd Reserve Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, late Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
He was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery on 24 December in Section A1, Plot number 2210 with his mother, and his sister joined them in 1940.
The family memorial has been uploaded to Billion Graves so anyone downloading their App will be able to locate it by GPS.
I have been unable to find Alexander listed on any war memorial in Ireland (Co Carlow, where he was born: Fermoy, where he was a resident) or England (Cheltenham, where he died)
Researched by Baden Russell February 2021