BOOKS AND PAPER ITEMS | MAJOR A. A. GORDON SOCIETY

BOOKS

RECORD OF THE 9TH (VOLUNTEER) BATTALION (HIGHLANDERS) THE ROYAL SCOTS - 1909

In 1909 James Fergusson founders of the 9th Volunteer Battalion Highlanders the Royal Scots published a chronicle account of the military history of the battalion. The book holds several photographs of his personal collection, featuring Major A. A. Gordon some 8 times. The book gives all the commissions of the officers and their personal history with the battalion.

James Fergusson became prior of his commission the Sherriff of Argyll and was graduated as a lawyer. He has commissioned the commander of the 9th Royal Scots on 24 July 1900. Because of his connection with the court, it is not surprising that many of the officers where also a lawyer. One of them being the later famous Captain Alexander Taylor, who unfortunately died in the Scarpe Valley on 27 April 1917, after having fought in the most gruesome fights of the First World War.

A BOOK OF BELGIUM'S GRATITUDE - 1916

‘A book of Belgium’s gratitude’ was published in 1916 and contained comprising literary articles by representative Belgians, together with their translations by various hands, and illustrated throughout in colour and black and white by Belgian artists. Major Gordon was mentioned in the book as a translator. The book was published in recognition of the help and hospitality given by the British Empire and of the relief bestowed by the United States of America during the Great War. A committee was formed with King Albert of Belgian as Patron and Belgian Minister H.E. Paul Huysmans as president. In the committee, we found two the two famous Belgian artists Emile Claus and Emile Cammaerts as well as Paul Lambotte, former Director of the Museum of ‘BeauxArts’. The profits of the book were placed at the disposal to her Majesty Queen Mary.

The first two letters in the book were written by King Albert and Queen Elisabeth in their original handwriting. The letter of King Albert was translated by the Right Hon. The Earl of Curzon of Kedleston. While the letter of Queen Elisabeth was translated by none other than Major A. A. Gordon, M.V.O. The translation reads:

“The generosity of Great Britain and her Colonies, and of the United States of America, is a magnificent example of charity. Moved by this unanimous spirit of touching solicitude for Belgium, I join with all those who have written their names in this book, in order to express my profound gratitude to these two great nations for the help which they have rendered to our countrymen during this time of sore trial.”

On page 28, we found the chapter ‘Le Belgian Relief Fund which was written by Comte de Lalaing ( ministerplénipotentiaire). The article published in French was translated by the author from page 34. In both articles, Comte de Lalaing thanked Major Gordon in the following words: “Before Antwerp fell several steamers laden with provisions and clothes given to the Belgian Relief Fund were sent to that town and the contents were distributed to the population of Antwerp and its suburbs, before the arrival of the enemy, thanks to the untiring efforts of the Fund’s honorary secretary, Major Gordon, who from the first assisted me in organizing the Fund, and accompanied those vessels to Belgium. Major Gordon’s devoted and disinterested help, his large circle of friends, and his great experience were invaluable.

CHURCH OF THE MULTIPLYING OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES - 1937

This book is mentioned in the final chapter of Major Gordon’s memoirs and was sold out in the first year that it was published. To find an originally signed example with its original dust jacket is naturally a treasure for the Kings Messenger Collection. The book was found in America two months ago and was bought afterwards. The Kings Messenger collection contained already a copy without the dust jacket so it was not until now that we actually had the chance to see the original dust jacket. The dust jacket mentions ‘Schneider/Gordon, Church of the Multiplying’ on the spine and holds a photograph of possibly one of the first discoveries of the mosaic. It also contains a wonderful introduction on the inner side. The back of the dust jacket is plain.

CULLED FROM A DIARY - OLIVER & BOYD - 1941

The book Culled from a Diary was written by A. A. Gordon on the request of many friends. Gordon thanks in his preface the famous Scottish novelist Anna Mesterton Buchan, who published under the alias O. Douglas, for her support. The second person Gordon thanks in his preface is his old friend and supreme commander during the Battle of Antwerp, Lord Mottistone. Lord Mottistone also wrote the foreword for the book in October 1939. The last person Gordon thanks is Dom Ernest Graf from St. Marys Church in Devon, for his (spiritual)advice and support for writing this book.

Gordon let his readers know, that the book was written on the basis of his personal diaries, other than from memory. The book contains 17 chapters with the appendix of Gordon's rapport to Winston Churchill over the Battle of Antwerp. In total 214 pages here written and published. On the paper jacket of the book mentions Gordon many world-famous people he had the pleasure to meet and serve with.

The book was published in 1941 with Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh. The original price for the book was 8 pounds, 6 shilling.

How many editions where published is still unknown to us.

PAPER ITEMS

FOUR WARTIME ENVELOPPE COVERS WRITTEN FROM MAJOR PREUDHOMME TO MAJOR GORDON

These envelope covers were bought on a Belgium auction site and connected with an anecdote between Major Gordon, Major Preudhomme and King Albert I of Belgium. In 1916, King Albert ordered Major Preudhomme to check on the Royal children with Lord Curzon at Hackwood. He also said that the children should write letters to the Pope because his excellency had sent gifts to La Panne for them. The letters were then to be delivered to Major Gordon to deliver them. Once the letters arrived at Apsley House, Major Gordon put them in a large envelope and posted them to the Vatican. After his return to La Panne, King Albert asked who delivered the letters. Major Gordon knew he had made a mistake and said he had posted them in London. The King was surprised but calmly said: "Well, I fancy it will be the first time such a package would be delivered to his excellency by Post."

The contents of these envelopes are never discovered.

WARTIME ENVELOPPE WRITTEN FROM Lieutenant Paul de Liedekerke de Pailhe TO MAJOR GORDON

The envelope was sent on May 5, 1915, by the Belgian Flying officer Lieutenant Paul Marie Charles Raymond Ghislain de Liedekerke de Pailhe. Paul was born on July 23, 1892, in the Belgian capital and married Anne d’Oultremont on November 20, 1920, with who he had three children. Their son James Henri Ghislain Marie de Liedekerke de Pailhe, died a hero’s death on 3 September 1944.

WARTIME ENVELOPPE WRITTEN ANONYMOUS TO MAJOR GORDON

LETTER WRITTEN FROM MAJOR GORDON TO LRS CROMPTON- Dated 1948

The letter was written on December 24, 1948, to Mrs Crompton to thank her for the Christmas card he received from her.
In the letter, Major Gordon recalls his health and his sisters-in-law, Mabel Handerson and Dolly (his wife's twin sister). The latter had unfortunately lately died in a nasty fall from a train in France. In the letter, he wishes Mrs Crompton and her family a happy Christmas and a good New Year.

GUESTBOOK SIGNATURES

GUESTBOOK SIGNATURES ELSIE KNOCKER & MAIRI CHISHOLM

The signatures were placed in Major Gordon's guestbook during the honeymoon of Elsie Knocker and Baron de T'Serclaes de Rottendael in England by the end of January 1916.

Major Gordon had a perfect relationship with the nurses during the First World War and was entrusted with their journals to get them published in England. In 1916 the book The Cellar House of Pervuyse was published. Major Gordon gave a copy of this book to King Albert of Belgium.

GUESTBOOK SIGNATURE ALBERT DE BASSOMPIERRE

Major Gordon had an excellent and long friendship with Albert de Bassompierre. Both men met at the quay in Antwerp in September 1914 and had many surveys of the front together.

Major Gordon states the following about their friendship in his book 'Culled from a Diary':

"I was met on berthing at a quay at Antwerp by a high representative of the Belgian Foreign Office, Monsieur Albert de Bassompierre - now Baron Bassompierre, until recently Belgian Ambassador to the court of the Mikado at Tokyo, Japan - a most charming gentleman and a fluent speaker of English the most perfect I have ever heard from a foreigner. I am pleased to add that I am fortunate to have this gentleman as a perfect friend to this day."

GUESTBOOK SIGNATURE FROM VICTOR ROUSSEAU + Belgian Badge

Major Gordon met Victor Rousseau after Queen Elisabeth assigned him to contact mister Rousseau to create the now-known Elisabeth Medal. Later on, Victor Rousseau made also a design for a badge called: Ouevre du vetement des soldats Belges Londres (1914-1915).

GUESTBOOK SIGNATURE DUCHESS SABINE D'URSEL/DE FRANCQUEVILLE

Sabine De Francqueville was born in Paris in 1877. She married duke Robert M Léon d'Ursel on the 12th of April 1898, and the couple got three children. The Germans arrested the Duke and Duchess in 1915 in Brussels for furnishing money to Belgians wishing to escape to join the Belgian Army in Britain.

Major Gordon states the following in his book:

"During the afternoon, I went to see Colonel Comte de Jonghe d'Ardoye, a delightful Belgian Officer. He drove me to Hazebrouck to call on another Belgian officer, Duc d'Ursel, married to our old friend Comtesse Sabine de Franqueville. We partook of tea before returning to St. Omer."

GUESTBOOK SIGNATURE FROM MAJOR GENERAL FORBES MACBEAN

Major General Forbes Macbean was an army officer en Aide-de-Camp of King Edward VII. He was born in 1857 as the son of Forbes Macbean (1825) and Frances Macbean. Forbes married Mary Katherine Macbean and got a son, Duncan Gillies Forbes Macbean, in 1893. Duncan was born at the Royal Military College in Surrey on the 19th of July 1893 and was educated at Aysgarth School, Bedale, Yorkshire. Afterwards, he was sent to Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire, from 1907 to 1911. The following year he was educated as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College of Sandhurst. He has commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.

On the outbreak of the war, Duncan was sent to France on 7th October 1914. On 28th October 1914, he was wounded in the Gheluvelt, Belgium, during the First Battle of Ypres. On 30th October 1914, he was promoted to full lieutenant and was made Temporary Captain on 16 June 1915.

He was killed in action at Festubert, Artois, France, only two days before. Duncan is buried in the Gorre British and Indian Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He is commemorated on the Camberley War Memorial.

Duncan was the Godson of Colonel Forbes Macbean, 92nd Gordon Highlanders, Sergeant-at-Arms of Queen Victoria. He also was the nephew of Sir Willian Macbean K.C.B., K.T.S, 92nd Gordon Highlanders.

The relationship between Major General Macbean and Major Gordon is discovered in the book: the 9th battalion (Highlanders) Royal Scots by James Fergusson. The then Colonel Forbes Macbean was in command of the 33rd Brigade and had to take a defensive position against the 31st Brigade with the 9th Royal Scots at the training camp of Stobs in 1905. The 31st Brigade won the manoeuvres and was congratulated by the Scottish command.

GUESTBOOK SIGNATURE OF FRANCOIS DE BUISSERET

Francois de Buisseret was the second son of Count Conrad de Buisseret and Caroline Sherman Story, who was the daughter of the American General John Patten Story. His mother died in December 1914 when she was serving as a nurse in a Belgian field hospital when she was infected with diphtheria. Francois' father was the Belgian ambassador in Russia during this time and couldn't reach Caroline before her death because of the unrest in that country. Caroline's mother took a heroic journey to Europe to take the children to America during the worst submarine attacks of the war. The American press states that a boy by the age of 16 was enlisted in the Belgian Army several weeks before the death of his mother. It must be believed that this was François because he was born in 1899, and his younger brother was too young by the end of 1914. The connection between François and Major Gordon is relatively unknown.