MAJOR ROBERT GILMOUR GORDON

"GORDON-GILMOUR, ROBERT, Major, of Liberton and Craigmillar, was born 27 February 1857, son of Colonel Wolrige Gordon and Anne, daughter of Robert Gordon, of Hallhead and Esslemont. He was educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford, and joined the 94th Foot 23 January 1878, becoming Second Lieutenant, Grenadier Guards, 17 May 1879. He served in the South African War of 1879, in the Zulu Campaign, being present at the Battle of Ulundi (Medal with clasp). He became Lieutenant 1 July 1881, and served in the Sudan Expedition, 1884-85 (Nile), with the Guards' Camel Corps, actions of Abu Klea and Abou Krou, and operations against Metemmeh, January 1885 (Medal with two clasps; Bronze Star). He was promoted to Captain 23 July 1890. He was Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for War 27 January 1891 to August 1892, and was promoted to Major 25 August 1896. Major Gordon-Gilmour served in the South African War, 1900-2. He was in command of the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards from 30 May to 11 October 1900, and from 28 March to 21 June 1901, and 8 August to 3 November 1901; operations in the Orange Free State, April to May 1900; operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900, including actions of Biddulphsberg and Wittebergen (1 to 29 July); operations in the Transvaal, February to March 1901; operations in Orange River Colony, December 1900 to February 1901, and March 1901 to 31 May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901, and 29 July 1902]; received the Queen's Medal with three clasps; the King's Medal with two clasps; was created a CB, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Robert Gordon-Gilmour, Major, Grenadier Guards. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were sent out to South Africa to Lord Kitchener, and presented by General E S Brook at Bethlehem 3 May 1902. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 28 October 1902; was given the Brevet of Colonel 28 October 1905; was created an MVO in 1905, and became Colonel 13 July 1907. He commanded the Grenadier Guards, 1908-10; was created a CVO in 1910, and retired 16 July 1910. He had the Jubilee Medal and King George's Coronation Medal. He commanded the Grenadier Guards in August and September 1914; the 98th Infantry Brigade in September and November, and took it to France. He was given the honorary rank of Brigadier General 3 April 1917, and was Area Commandant, June to October 1917; Commandant, Cape Troops, XlXth Corps, November to February 1919 (Despatches). He assumed the name of Gilmour in 1887, on succeeding to the estates of his great-uncle, W L Gilmour, of Craigmillar. Brigadier General Gordon-Gilmour was Brigadier and Adjutant, Royal Company of Archers (King's Bodyguard for Scotland); Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod (Order of the Thistle); Grand Master Mason of Scotland. He was a JP and DL. He married, on 19 October 1889, at Madresfield Church, Worcestershire, the Lady Susan Lygon, second daughter of Frederick, 6th Earl Beauchamp, and they had three daughters: Mary, Margaret and Grizel, and a son, John, born 5 June, 1899".

Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book)

Robert Gordon Gordon-Gilmour, D.S.O., Major, Grenadier
Guards. Born in 1857, he is the eldest son of Mr. Henry Wolrige Gordon
of Hallhead and Esslemont, Aberdeenshire, and assumed the name of Gil-
mour on succeeding to the estate of Craigmillar on the death of his grand-
uncle, Walter James Leith Gilmour, 1887. He entered the 94th Foot
(now the 2nd Battalion of the Connaught Rangers) from the militia in
1878, and was transferred to the Grenadier Guards in the following year.
He went through the Zulu war of 1879, and the Soudan expedition with
the Guards' Camel Corps, 1884-5. He was assistant private secretary to
the Minister for War, 1891-2. He commanded the 2nd battalion of the
Grenadier Guards in South Africa from 30th May to nth October, 1900.
He took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, April-November,
J900, including the actions at Biddulphsberg.

Craigmillar Castle


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East Garden is the Private Gilmour Burial Aisle. This is an early 16th Century family chapel which the Prestons dedicated to St Thomas of Cantebury
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On the floor of the chapel were these two stones inscribed RGG and SG.
RGG is Robert Gordon Gilmour and SG is his wife Susan Gilmour.

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"The Impressive C.B., C.V.O., and Boer War D.S.O. Group of Seventeen to Brigadier-General Sir R.G. Gordon-Gilmour, 1st Baronet Gilmour of Liberton and Craigmillar, A Veteran of Ulundi and Abu Klea, He Commanded The 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards Throughout the Boer War, And Commanded the Regiment at the Outbreak of The Great War, Who Served With The Regiment in The Zulu and Egyptian Campaigns; He Also Commanded The 98th Infantry Brigade in France From November 1914 a) Baronet's Badge, United Kingdom, 51mm x 37mm, gold (22 carat, Hallmarks for London 1929) and enamel, reverse engraved 'Gilmour of Liberton and Craigmillar 1926' b) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Companion's (C.B.) neck Badge, 50mm, silver-gilt and enamel, converted for neck-wear c) The Royal Victorian Order, Commander's (C.V.O.) neck Badge, 52mm, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially numbered 'C460', minor enamel damage to lower obverse arm d) Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse of suspension bar privately engraved 'Major R.G. Gilmour. Gren. Gds.', with integral top riband bar e) South Africa 1877-79, one clasp, 1879 (2nd. Lieut. R.G.W. Gordon. 94th Foot.) f) Egypt 1882-89, undated, two clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (Lieut: R.G. Wolrige-Gordon. 3/Grenr. Gds.) g) Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, three clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Maj. R.G. Gordon-Gilmour. D.S.O., Gren: Gds:) h) King's South Africa 1901-02, two clasps (Lt: Col: R.G. Gordon-Gilmour, D.S.O., Gren: Gds:) i) 1914-15 Star (Brig. Gen. R.G. Gordon-Gilmour. C.B. C.V.O. D.S.O.) j) British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaves (Brig. Gen. R.G. Gordon-Gilmour.) k) Jubilee 1897, silver (Major R.G. Gilmour. Gren. Guards.), privately engraved in large serif capitals l) Coronation 1911 (Col. R.G Gordon Gilmour.), privately engraved in large serif capitals m) Jubilee 1935 n) Coronation 1937 o) Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze p) Khedive's Star 1884-6, lacquered, generally nearly very fine or better, mounted court-style as worn, together with the recipient's full group of sixteen miniature awards; and his Grand Master Mason of Scotland Badge, gold and silver, the reverse engraved 'Brigadier-General Robert Gordon Gordon Gilmour of Liberton & Craigmillar C.B., C.V.O., D.S.O. Grand Master Mason of Scotland 1917-18-19-20.' (17) Estimate £ 8,000-10,000 C.B. London Gazette 31.10.1902 Major Robert Gordon Gordon-Gilmour, D.S.O. 'In recognition of his services during the operations in South Africa.' C.V.O. London Gazette 1.7.1910 Colonel Robert Gordon Gordon-Gilmour, C.B., M.V.O., D.S.O., Commanding the Regiment and Regimental District 'On the occasion of the inspection by His Majesty of the Grenadier Guards.' M.V.O. IV Class London Gazette 16.6.1905 Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Gordon Gordon-Gilmour, C.B., D.S.O., Commanding 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards 'On the occasion of the Marriage of Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret of Connaught and His Royal Highness Prince Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and Norway.' D.S.O. London Gazette 27.9.1901 Robert Gordon-Gilmour, Major, Grenadier Guards 'In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.' Brigadier-General Sir Robert Gordon Gordon-Gilmour, 1st Baronet Gilmour of Liberton and Craigmillar, C.B., C.V.O., D.S.O., was born Robert Gordon Wolrige-Gordon in February 1857, the eldest son of Colonel Henry Wolrige-Gordon and Anne (née Gordon), and was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, 94th Foot, January 1878, before transferring to the Grenadier Guards in May 1879, and served with the regiment in the Zulu Campaign, being present at the Battle of Ulundi, 3.7.1879. Promoted Lieutenant in July 1881, he served in Egypt and the Sudan with the Guards' Camel Corps, and was present at the actions at Abu Klea, 17.1.1885, and Abou Krou, and the operations against Metemmeh. On succeeding in 1887 to the estates of his great-uncle, W.L. Gilmour, of Craigmillar, he changed his surname to Gordon-Gilmour. Advanced Captain in July 1890, he served as Assistant Private Secretary to the Conservative Secretary of State for War, Edward Stanhope, from January 1891 until the Liberal victory in August 1892, gaining valuable political experience. Promoted Major in August 1896, Gordon-Gilmour was given, in May 1900, the Command of the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, and served with his Battalion during the South African War from May 1900 to May 1902, where he was present at the operations in the Orange Free State; in the Orange River Colony, including the actions at Biddulphsberg and Wittebergen; and in the Transvaal. Twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 10.9.1901 and 29.7.1902), he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath for his wartime services. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in October 1902, he was appointed M.V.O. in June 1905 following the marriage of H.R.H. Princess Margaret, where the Grenadier Guards formed the guard of Honour, and was awarded the Brevet of Colonel in October of that year. Advanced Colonel in July 1907, he commanded the Grenadier Guards from 1908 to 1910, retiring in July 1910 following the Regiment's inspection by King George V, held in lieu of the annual Trooping the Colour Parade, which had been cancelled that year following the death of King Edward VII. In August 1914 he took command of the Grenadier Guards following the outbreak of the Great War, before being given the command of the 98th Infantry Brigade in November of that year, taking them to France. Promoted Brigadier-General, April 1917, he served as an Area Commandant, June to October 1917, and as Commandant, Cape Troops, XIXth Corps, November 1917 to November 1918, and was again Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 8.7.1919). After the War Brigadier-General Gordon-Gilmour served as Brigadier and Adjutant, Royal Company of Archers (King's Bodyguard for Scotland), as well as holding the appointments of Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod (Order of the Thistle); a Justice of the Peace; a Deputy Lieutenant; and Grand Master Mason of Scotland, 1916-20. Appointed President of the Scottish Union Association in 1925, the following year was created a Baronet for his political and public services (London Gazette 3.7.1926). Brigadier-General Sir Robert Gordon-Gilmour died at home in Liberton, Midlothian, in June 1939"
Source: Spink.com

Posted on behalf of forum member Littlehand