CERTIFICATE FOR THE FRENCH ORDER OF CHIVALRY 'Knight' OF DE L'EGION D'HONNEUR-1897

The certificate was awarded in August 1897 to A. A. Gordon for his involvement in planning the first annual meeting with the French branch of the Franco-Scottish Society. Later on, he received permission from the British monarch (Queen Victoria) to wear the decoration at official meetings.

The French L'egion D'honneur is the highest and most prestimed knighthood order of the French state since 1802 when it was established by the French Emperor Napoleon I.

For his war service in WWI, Major Gordon was promoted from knight to officer in the order.

Certificate for the permission to wear the foreign French knighthood order L'egion d'Honneur.

CERTIFICATE FOR A KNIGHT OF GRACE IN THE ORDER OF THE HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM

The certificate was awarded on 27 November 1900.

Although uncertain it is most likely that Major Gordon was awarded the certificate for his involvement in his aid to the Hospitals for South Africa during the Second Boer War. Major Gordon got involved with this noble cause after he was rejected two times for active service during the war.

CERTIFICATE TO THE ITALIAN KNIGHTHOODORDER THE ORDER OF THE CROWN - 1905

Major Gordon was awarded by the Italian government this esteemed award for his involvement in organizing the conference for the Institute of Law in Edinburgh to which many Europeans were invited.

CERTIFICATE ISABEL OF THE CATHOLICS - 1908 (Spain)

Major Gordon was awarded the Spanish Order of Isabel of the Catholics for the same reason as he was awarded the Italian knighthood order of the Crown.

CERTIFICATE FOR A MEMBER OF THE VICTORIAN ORDER 1908

Major Gordon was decorated the MVO on 28th of September 1908 by King Edward VII for his involvement in founding the Scottish national monument for Queen Victoria being Queen Victoria School at Dunblane.

During the ceremony, Major Gordon was accompanied by his older brother (later Colonel W.E. Gordon VC).

RUSSIAN (IMPERIAL) CERTIFICATE OF GRATITUDE AND PRESENTATION OF GOLDEN CIGARETTE CASE

Major Gordon was sent a what the Foreign Office called "the most beautiful cigarette case which had ever entered England." Major Gordon called this description no exaggeration and gave the following description of the cigarette case: 

" A twenty-two-carat gold-covered case in radiating dark blue Imperial enamel, and bearing on the side the Russian Arms in diamonds, many the size of peas."

Major Gordon states further that the gift was no utility gift, as the extinct enamel is apt to splinter all over even with a slight knock or fall. He also mentioned that he receipt of very similar gifts from States of which the ruler of there respectively was politically and cruelly murdered. 

On the certificate, Major Gordon's name is translated in Russian as:

майOPY APRNDANOGNY(?) SAPGONY. 

The document was signed by the transitional government after the Russian Revolution in Petrograd (temporary name of St. Petersburg). 

TRANSLATION:

This is given to Major Archibald Gordon in proof that he was most graciously granted from the cabinet of his Imperial Majesty, a golden enamelled cigarette case, ornamented with the Russian arms in brilliant. Petrograd in December 1914.

Acting prince for the on the ...(?) Division of the cabinet of his majesty V. Naprovnih (?)

assistant director of the Division. Bentusheff (?)

RUSSIAN (REPUBLIC) CERTIFICATE ORDER OF SAINT ANNE (2ND CLASS) - 1917

On September 1, 1917, Major Gordon was sent a certificate in Russian and a French translation which informed him that the new government has decorated him in the Imperial Order of Saint Anne (2nd Class).

The certificate reads:  I declare in name of and with the approval of the provisional government since June 19, 1917 (July,2) that Major Gordon, in service of the English Army, attaché à la Maison Militaire du Roi des Belges, receives the order of Saint-Anna 2nd Class for his war performances and other services to the Russian Army. 

CERTIFICATE FOR THE COMPANION IN THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE 1917

BELGIAN CERTIFICATE FOR THE CROIX DE GUERRE 1917

Major Gordon was personally awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre by King Albert I of Belgium during his stay at La Panne in 1917. Both men had a conversation in the sitting-room and by the end of the evening, King Albert said to Major Gordon that he wanted to decorate him with the award for his service to him and his bravery during the siege and retreat of Antwerp. The Military Household insisted that he whore the award that evening at dinner.

BELGIAN CERTIFICATE FOR KNIGHTHOOD OF THE ORDER OF LEOPOLD (KNIGHT)

Major Gordon was awarded as a knight of the order of Leopold in 1916 when he was escorting Lord Curzon to the front. Lord Curzon received together with Prince Alexander of Teck the highest grade of the order at the same time. Lord Curzon was not very pleased that he was not informed that this ceremony was going to take place as he did not bring his Garterrobes with him and know had to receive the award in his traveling suit.

After the ceremony, Major Gordon was a task to fill out the forms of the recipients. On his own certificate, he was mentioned as the secretary to Lord Curzon incorrectly. After the war, Major Gordon did indeed promised Lord Curzon to become his secretary but was forced to come back to this promise as his wife's health was decreasing rapidly.

BELGIAN CERTIFICATE FOR THE KING ALBERT MEDAL

The king Albert medal was established by royal decree on 7 April 1919 and awarded to Belgians and foreigners who were exceptionally meritorious in promoting, organizing, or administering humanitarian and charitable work that assisted Belgians in need during the First World War.