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1911 His service number points to enlisting towards the end of 1911 (born therefore circa 1893 and his retirement points to Dec 1893)
1914 Oct 7. Lands in France with Scots Guards
1917 Sep 25 Gazetted MM. 8012 L./C. A. Gordon, S. Gds. (Keith).
1918 Feb 6. DCM gazetted
1918 Jul 18. 2nd Lt. A. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M. to be actg. Capt. whilst comdg. a Co.
1918 Jul 27 MC Gazetted. 2nd Lt. Alexander Gordon, D.C.M., M.M., R. Scots. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When sent up with battalion headquarter units to clear up the situation in avillage, he found the enemy were in it. He got his party into houses and on to the roofs, from which they could snipe, and held on to the place the whole afternoon. When relieved he took his men and filled a gap in the new line. His skilful action under heavy fire prevented the enemy breaking through.
1919 Jan 11. Gazetted bar to MC. 2nd Lt. (A./Capt.) Alexander Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M., 2nd Bn.,,R. Scots. For conspicuous gallantry and skilful, leadership in an attack. When the leading companies were held up 'by heavy machinegun fire, watching for his opportunity, he led. his company forward, and, with the greatest courage and determination, pressed home the attack, and captured the position. By dark, largely owing to his splendid example and fearless leadership, his company was established, and about 200 prisoners, and a largenumber of machine gains captured. (M.C. gazetted 26th July, 1918)
1919 Jul 25. The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be Lts. : — R. Scots.—A. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M.
1921 Jun 15. Intelligence officer with Royal Scots in Clare. He was involved in the Meelick Ambush
8 IRA men under the command of John McCormack went to Woodcock Hill on the railway line in order to raid the Limerick to Ennis train. McCormack hoped to read the letters in the mailbags on the train to see if he could nail a suspected spy in the area. The IRA men built a low, stone barricade across the railway line about half a mile east of Cratloe Railway Station. However, unbeknown to them, there were 30 British soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Scots Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant A Gordon, boarded the train at Limerick. At 12.15pm, as the train approached the barricade the driver put on steam and broke the barricade. As the train was passing the ambush position it was fired at by the ambushers, but the train was able to reach Cratloe station.
The British soldiers removed all the civilian passengers here and Lieutenant Gordon climbed onto the engine and ordered the driver to reverse the train back to the point where they were shot at by Woodcock Hill. As the train approached the area, Sullivan, the engine driver, blew the steam whistle several times to warn the ambushers that the British soldiers were returning, until Lieutenant Gordon is said to have drawn his revolver, put it to the back of Sullivan’s head and threatened to “blow his brains out” if he made another noise. On reaching the ambush position the British soldiers opened fire with two machine guns on the IRA men. Christopher McCarthy was wounded and fell to the ground. Michael Gleeson attempted to rescue McCarthy, but had only covered a short distance before Gleeson was also shot. Gleeson was unable to continue but McCarthy managed to stagger on. The advancing British soldiers surrounded Gleeson and shot him dead where he lay. McCarthy carried on through the fields but was soon caught and was captured and killed by Lieutenant A Gordon and a group of the Royal Scots, who, the IRA say, shot him several times. All the other IRA volunteers had managed to get away safely, though some were wounded.
1921 Dec 14. Court martial for being drunk. And for a discipinaruy offence. He was sentenced to "dismissal from the service", but the recommendation for mercy was accepted by the army
1922 Jan 4 Under open arrest pending confirmation of Field General Court Martial. The upshot appears to be a Gazette entry of 14 Mar 1922. Royal Scots. Lt. A. E. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M., to take rank and precedence in the Regt. and in the Army as if his appt. as Lt. bore the date 14th Dec. 1921
1927 Jul 15. R Scots—Lt. A. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M., to be Adjt., vice Capt. C. C. Winchester, M.C.
1930 Jan 15. R. Scots—The undermentioned Lts. to be Capts. A. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M., and retains his appt. of Adjt.
1930 Jul 15. R. Scots—Capt. A. G. Syme, M.M., to be Adjt., vice Capt. A. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M. M.M.
1935 Apr 4. R. Scots—The undermentioned Capts. retire on ret. pay: — A. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M.
1935 Apr 4. The undermentioned Capts. (ret. pay) to be Capts:— R. Scots, A. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M., with seniority 1st Feb. 1929.
1939 Sep 6. R. Scots. The undermentioned Capt. to be Bt.Major - Royal Scots, A. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M. (11562).
1939 Sep 6. Capt to be Brevet Major. A. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M. (11562).
1943 Dec 7. R. Scots. Capt. A. Gordon, M.C., D.C.M., M.M. (11562) having attained the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Res. of Offrs.