GORDON, Richard
| Other Name: | McGREGOR, Arthur Gordon - True Name |
|---|---|
| Service Number: | 2624 |
| Enlisted: | 12 July 1916, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Tarrawingee, Victoria, 9 May 1885 |
| Home Town: | Tarrawingee, Wangaratta, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Died: | Natural causes (cancer), Nunawading, Victoria, 3 July 1956, aged 71 years |
| Cemetery: |
Box Hill General Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2624, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Sep 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2624, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Karroo embarkation_ship_number: A10 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Sep 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2624, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Karroo, Melbourne | |
| 28 Mar 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2624, 2nd Pioneer Battalion |
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Richard Gordon was in fact Arthur Gordon McGregor who went by a number of nicknames: "Curly", "Dick the Radical" "Snowy" (This is confirmed in the official Service Record held by National Arvchives of Australia, RSL Virtual War Memorial Chief Moderator, June 2015)
Born in Tarrawingee to William Wood McGregor and Mary Anne McGregor (nee Barry )he was one of 12 children, he married Charlotte Mary Hollis and they had four children. Eunice, Murray, Joan and Marj.
When he attempted to enlist, Dick had apparently found some (a lot) of Dutch Courage and was turned away.
The next day he enlisted under the name "Richard Gordon"
He served in Northern France (Oise, Picardy area) and in Belgium as a stretcher bearer.
Alcohol was a problem for Dick throughout his life and service as records show that he went AWL on at least 12 occasions. Dick was the victim of Mustard Gas on two occasions and he used alcohol to lessen the pain for the rest of his life.
Dick is remembered as full of humour and a lot of fun, he enjoyed a drink and liked to sing old scottish songs and would do the "Highland Fling" to the admiration of his grandchildren
Click images to start slideshow.