THE FALLEN AND WOUNDED.
PERSONAL NOTES.
Private P. Gordon.
Mrs E. Gordon, of Bortons, received cabled advice yesterday that her son, Private P. Gordon, had died of wounds received in action on August 11th at the Dardanelles. Private P. Gordon was the second son of Mrs Elizabeth and the late Robert Gordon, of Kokoama. He was born in Alma and was educated at the Kokoama school. The late Private Gordon was a keen volunteer and an excellent shot. He went away with the Fifth Reinforcements to join his brother, serving with the Main Expeditionary Force. The latter is now on his way back to New Zealand. After his brother enlisted, Private Peter Gordon said: ''I must go with my brother.'' Prior to volunteering he was engaged in farming and he leaves a widowed mother, six sisters, his soldier brother and a host of staunch friends. The fallen private's sisters are Mrs Thomas Preen (Kokoama), Mrs W Scott (Oamaru) ,and Mesdames James and T. Rawcliff, of Alma, and two who are unmarried. -North Otago Times, 7/9/1915.
We all regret to hear that Private Peter Gordon has paid for honor with his life at the Dardanelles, and we all give our sympathy to his mother (Mrs E. Gordon. Kokoama) on her regrettable but honorable loss. Sergeant A. Gordon (Main Body), is a brother of Private Peter Gordon. They met in Egypt about 1st August and had a day together. Peter went to the front early in August and died from his wounds on the 11th. Sergeant R. Gordon was invalided home on the 10th August by the Tahiti, and is expected to arrive home on Tuesday evening, via Duntroon. -Oamaru Mail, 13/9/1915.
ROLL OF HONOR.
IN MEMORIAM.
GORDON. — In loving memory of Private Peter Gordon, 8-242-7 5th Reinforcements, who died of wounds at Gallipoli, on the 11th August, 1915. Dearly beloved second son of Elizabeth and the late Robert Gordon, of Kokoamo; aged 24 years. "He did his duty."
Inserted by his loving mother, sisters, and brother. -Oamaru Mail, 11/8/1920.
Mrs Gordon, of Borton's, has received word that her son, Sergeant R. Gordon, is in the General Hospital at Cairo. The Adjutant-General reported that there were no particulars at present. Sergeant Gordon, who has been in the Awamoko district for 20 years, has always been a keen volunteer and latterly a Territorial. -Oamaru Mail, 19/6/1915.
Sergeant Robert Gordon (Otago Infantry Battalion, reported to be in the General Hospital, Cairo), is the eldest son of the late Mr Robert Gordon, of Kokoama, North Otago. Sergeant Gordon had been for many years associated with military affairs, in which he took a very keen interest, and was one of the drill sergeant-majors for the Territorials of the outlying districts in North Otago, where he was engaged in sheep-farming. At the outbreak of the war he joined the Main Body of the Expeditionary Force. When the forces left Egypt for the Dardanelles he was detained, much to his disappointment, to drill the 3rd Reinforcements; with whom he eventually went to the firing-line. His younger and only brother, Private Peter Gordon, is now on his way to Egypt with the 5th Reinforcements. -Press, 7/7/1915.
Robert Gordon was hospitalised from Gallipoli with acute bronchitis. He was invalided home, according to his Army record, "for a change," with the note "nervous shock."
Another page of his record, headed "Report on an Invalid," adds more detail: "Shell burst on edge of trench and brought down large quantities of earth upon Sergeant Gordon, who was stunned. He was suffering from bronchitis and quinsy at the time. Abscess of tonsil burst and he was sent back to Egypt, as suffering from bronchitis and tonsilitis, five days after accident. Effects of shell and fall of earth have never disappeared."
Briefly, his condition was described as: "General condition fair. Nervousness marked. Persistent headache.
Robert's Army record shows he was unmarried at the time of enlistment. It would seem that his marriage to May was a short one.
DEATHS
GORDON. — At Invercargill on Thursday, 4th May, 1922, Sergeant Robert Gordon, Main Body (845), beloved husband of May Gordon, and eldest and only surviving son of Elizabeth and the late Robert Gordon, and only brother of Mrs Thos. Preen, of Makarewa; aged 34 years. Interment at Oamaru.—Kingsland & Ferguson, Undertakers. -Southland Times, 5/5/1920.
Sergeant Robert Gordon died of "tuberculosis of the kidneys," one of the many New Zealand soldiers who survived the war to return home and die of TB.
Oamaru Cemetery.
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