Frederick Gordon

Major-General Sir Frederick Gordon, (9 October 1861 – 18 October 1927) was a senior British Army officer, who additionally served as a major general in the early Royal Air Force.

Early life and education Gordon was born on 9 October 1861 to Edward Gordon, Baron Gordon of Drumearn, a law lord and Conservative politician. He attended Highgate School and Wellington College, Berkshire, and then, as a gentleman cadet, he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst to undergo officer training.

Early military career On 22 January 1881, Gordon was commissioned as a subaltern, with the rank of second lieutenant, into the British Army. That year, he served as an officer in the 91st (Argyllshire Highlanders) Regiment of Foot, the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment), the Royal Berkshire Regiment, and the Gordon Highlanders. in South Africa (1899–1902) during the Second Boer War. he received the brevet rank of lieutenant colonel on 22 August 1902.

In February 1903 he was appointed a deputy assistant quartermaster general (DAQMG) with the 1st Division, stationed with the 1st Army Corps at Aldershot. On 9 January 1908, Gordon was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant colonel. From 1908 to 1911, during which time he received the brevet rank of colonel in April 1908, he was commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. He was promoted to colonel on 30 August.

First World War Gordon served during the First World War, which began in the summer of 1914, initially in his role as the 2nd Division's GSO1, accompanying it to the Western Front as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in the opening weeks of the war. he became the second commander of the 19th Infantry Brigade after Major General Laurence Drummond, which he led in all of its engagements over the next few months. which was soon after made a substantive promotion.

On 1 April 1918, he was granted a temporary commission in the newly created Royal Air Force (RAF) as a major general. He was the appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) No 4 Area.

He was mentioned in dispatches five times for his service in the war.

Post war and final years Gordon retired from the army in March 1920.

He died on 18 October 1927, aged 66.

Gordon received a number of honours for his service during the First World War. On 15 February 1915, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) "in recognition of the meritorious services [...] during the war". In the 1917 King's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) "for valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Field", and thereby granted the title Sir. He was also mentioned in despatches five times during the war. In September 1919, it was announced that he had been appointed Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Romania by the King of Romania "for distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign".

Personal life In 1897 Gordon married Mabel Rose Robinson. Together they had three children; one son and two daughters.