Gordon died on 26 July 2007, aged 87.
He enlisted into the Royal Armoured Corps at Warminster on 31 October 1940.
He was posted to 58 Training Regiment RAC and then to the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars on 1 June 1941, as a driver/mechanic.
The Regiment at that time was at Mons, carrying out training. On 19 November 1941, the Regiment had its first clash with the Germans and lost 20 tanks.
The Battle continued on the 20th and ‘Operation Crusader’ did not finish for the Regiment until 14 December 1941, when the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, or what was left of them, returned to Cairo for conversion training.
On 10 April 1942, they moved out to the desert and carried out Brigade exercises and Battle practice. At the end of May, the Regiment took part in the Battle of Bir Hacheim.
Gordon, who had taken part in the preceding battles, was captured on 27 May 1942.
He remained a prisoner of war until May 1945. During this time he escaped twice.
He was released to the ‘Z’ Reserve on 18 November 1946 and then served for six years with the Territorial Army.
Prior to enlistment, he had been a florist in his parents’ shop. On his return to Bristol, he again worked in the family business and he married his first wife Joyce who, unfortunately, died quite early in the marriage. He married Pat, and together they ran the florist shop after his parents’ death.
He later became the club steward at the Clifton Club. He joined the Regimental Association in February 1999.
