Alphabetically: Previous | Next

20/07/1890 - 02/07/1916

Place of birth: Rangoon, Burma
Last known address in Bromley: 3 Scotts Lane

Military information

Regiment/Service: King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Battalion/Ship: 6th attd 10th Bn
Rank: Lieutenant
Number: Unknown

Family information

Parents: Walter William Gordon & Constance Mary Beatson (nee Montresor)
Parents' occupation: East India Merchant
Siblings: Claude Gordon, Walter William Gordon
Relatives on War Memorial: BEATSON, W.W.G.

Census information

1901
Address: Grove House School Guildford
1911
Address: 4 Markwick Terrace St Leonards On Sea

Extra details

Roger was the eldest of Walter and Constance's three children. His father, Walter, worked for Messrs. Bulloch Brothers and Company in Rangoon. Following his death in 1897 the family returned to England eventually settling in Shortlands.

Roger entered Rugby School in 1905 and was in the cricket team in 1907. On leaving school he spent two years in the Capital and Counties Bank, Godalming before sailing to Canada to join the Canadian Bank of Commerce, Vancouver, B.C. where he had been for three years when war broke out.

On the outbreak of War he enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, and went to England with the First Canadian Contingent. He was described as being 5ft 10ins tall with dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair.He obtained a Commission in the 6th Battalion of the K.O.Y.L.I. in December 1914, and went to the Front in May 1915. He was wounded at Hooge on August 1st of the same year and returned to England. He left for the Front again in March 1916, attached to the 10th Battalion of his Regiment and was given the command of his Company a few days before his death. He was killed while leading his men into action near Fricourt on the second day of the Battle of the Somme, July 2nd 1916, when all the Officers of the Battalion who went into action were either killed or wounded.

The Grave Registration Report Form for Gordon Dump Cemetery states that Roger, along with seven other men from his battalion are "believed to be buried in this cemetery, actual graves unknown". Roger is also remembered on his brother Walter's grave in Bedford Cemetery and on the memorial in St Martin's Church Bedford. Walter died 16 days after Roger on 18th July

Thank you to Rugby School for their assistance.