James Heather Gordon
Encyclopedia
James Hannah "Jim" Gordon VC
(7 March 1909–24 July 1986) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
and grew up in Gingin, Western Australia
.
On 26 April 1940 Gordon understated his age and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, giving his middle name as Heather. At St Edmund’s Church of England, Wembley Park, Perth, on 14 June he married Myrtle Troy. He embarked for the Middle East in September and joined the 7th Australian Division's 2/31st Battalion
(a unit formed in Queensland and Victoria) in February 1941.
In June–July 1941, the unit was engaged in the Syria-Lebanon campaign
against the Vichy French. It was during the Battle of Jezzine that the following deed took place for which Gordon was awarded the VC:
On 12 July 1942, a plaque in his honour was unveiled in front of the Gingin post office. Later that year a portrait of Jim Gordon painted in 1941 by artist William Dargie
won the 1942 Archibald Prize
, Australia's most famous portrait prize.
Corporal Gordon returned to Australia in March 1942, and after recovering from a bout of malaria, reached Papua in November 1942. In July 1943 he was promoted to sergeant. After seeing further action in New Guinea, he returned to Australia in January 1944. He spent more time in hospital with malaria and performed administrative duties before being discharged on 17 February 1947.
Finding civilian life did not suit him, Gordon joined the Australian Regular Army on 2 December 1947, achieving the rank of Warrant Officer II in 1950. He retired from the army on 1 August 1968, then worked as a groundsman at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, until 1975.
Survived by his wife and their son, he died on 19 July 1986 at the Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood, and was cremated with full military honours. The Jim Gordon ward at the former Repatriation General Hospital has been named in his honour.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(7 March 1909–24 July 1986) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Biography
Gordon was born in Rockingham, Western AustraliaRockingham, Western Australia
Rockingham is a suburb and primary centre in Western Australia south-west of the Perth city centre and south of Fremantle. It has a beachside location at Mangles Bay, the southern extremity of Cockburn Sound. To its north stretches the maritime and resource-industry installations of Kwinana and...
and grew up in Gingin, Western Australia
Gingin, Western Australia
Gingin is an agricultural town in Western Australia. The town is located north of Perth along the Brand Highway.The town is well suited for agriculture with a mild climate and available water sources...
.
On 26 April 1940 Gordon understated his age and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, giving his middle name as Heather. At St Edmund’s Church of England, Wembley Park, Perth, on 14 June he married Myrtle Troy. He embarked for the Middle East in September and joined the 7th Australian Division's 2/31st Battalion
2/31st Battalion (Australia)
The 2/31st Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that served during World War II. It was raised in June 1940 and was assigned to the 25th Brigade, 7th Division. It initially served in the United Kingdom where it undertook defensive duties before being moved to the Middle East...
(a unit formed in Queensland and Victoria) in February 1941.
In June–July 1941, the unit was engaged in the Syria-Lebanon campaign
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
against the Vichy French. It was during the Battle of Jezzine that the following deed took place for which Gordon was awarded the VC:
- On 10 July 1941 at JezzineJezzineJezzine is a town in Lebanon, located from Sidon and south of Beirut. Surrounded by mountain peaks, pine forests, and at an average altitude of 950 m , it is the main summer resort and tourist destination of South Lebanon...
, SyriaSyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Private Gordon's company was held up by intense machine-gun and grenade fire from Vichy French forces, but on his own initiative, he crept forward alone and succeeded in getting close to the machine-gun post. He then charged it and killed the four machine-gunners with his bayonet. His action demoralized the enemy in this sector and the company advanced and took the position.
On 12 July 1942, a plaque in his honour was unveiled in front of the Gingin post office. Later that year a portrait of Jim Gordon painted in 1941 by artist William Dargie
William Dargie
Sir William Alexander Dargie CBE was an Australian painter, known especially for his portrait paintings. He holds the record for the most Archibald Prize wins; eight. He was an official Australian War Artist during World War II.- Biography :William Dargie was born in Footscray, Victoria, the first...
won the 1942 Archibald Prize
Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia. It was first awarded in 1921 after a bequest from J. F. Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin who died in 1919...
, Australia's most famous portrait prize.
Corporal Gordon returned to Australia in March 1942, and after recovering from a bout of malaria, reached Papua in November 1942. In July 1943 he was promoted to sergeant. After seeing further action in New Guinea, he returned to Australia in January 1944. He spent more time in hospital with malaria and performed administrative duties before being discharged on 17 February 1947.
Finding civilian life did not suit him, Gordon joined the Australian Regular Army on 2 December 1947, achieving the rank of Warrant Officer II in 1950. He retired from the army on 1 August 1968, then worked as a groundsman at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, until 1975.
Survived by his wife and their son, he died on 19 July 1986 at the Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood, and was cremated with full military honours. The Jim Gordon ward at the former Repatriation General Hospital has been named in his honour.
See also
- Battle of the Litani RiverBattle of the Litani RiverThe Battle of the Litani River was a battle of the Second World War that took place between during the advance on Beirut during the Syria-Lebanon campaign...
- Battle of MerdjayounBattle of MerdjayounBattle of Merdjayoun - In the Syria-Lebanon campaign of World War II, Australian troops fought a long and sometimes costly battle around Merdjayoun. They held a pass which could have allowed the Vichy French forces into the British Mandate of Palestine, with dire results...
- Battle of Jezzine
- Battle of DamourBattle of DamourThe Battle of Damour was the final major operation of the Australian forces during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign of World War II.-Background:In 1941, Damour was the French administrative capital...
- Battle of BeirutBattle of BeirutThe Battle of Beirut marked the end of hostilities in the Syria-Lebanon campaign of World War II.On 8 July, even before the fall of Damour, the Vichy French commander—General Henri Dentz—had sought an armistice: the advance on Beirut together with the Allied capture of Damascus in late June and...
External links
- Private J.H. Gordon in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives
- 1942 Archibald Prize winner, William Dargie's 1941 portrait of Jim Gordon.
- James Heather Gordon, Who's Who in Australia, p 356, 1980 Edition, Compiled and Edited by W.J. Draper, Melbourne, Australia