Died: 24 March 1918
Age: 24
Cecil Philip George Gordon, son of Colonel PCH Gordon, CMG, RAMC, of 6, Ralegh Avenue, Jersey, was born 27th August 1893. Entering College in 1904, he remained for three years and then went on to Blundell’s.
At the beginning of the War he was in Canada, and returning to England immediately to join up obtained a commission in the 4th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment, training in Jersey. He went out to France in 1916 and was attached to The East Kent Regiment (The Buffs), being engaged for the most part in the Ypres salient as a bombing officer. He went with that regiment in the 28th Division to Salonica and saw a good deal of fighting on the Struma front, where he suffered considerably from malaria and the hardships of active service. In 1917, he transferred to the RFC and was taught flying in Egypt. In July of the same year he was invalided home, and on recovery was posted to a Flying Squadron near Cirencester. While flying there in a “solo” machine he was seen to nose dive with engine going full speed and crash. It is supposed that he must have fainted in the air, as a result of malaria, as he was an experienced pilot. He died 21st March 1918.
In August, 1917, he married Jeanne, elder daughter of H Le Rossignol (OV), Judge of the High Court of India.
The above text appeared in the Victoria College Book of Remembrance which was published in 1920.
The link to the Channel Islands Great War Study Group website is:
http://www.greatwarci.net/honour/jersey/database/gordon-cpg-cirencester.htm
