The Chronicles of a Gay Gordon is a military memoir by Brigadier-General J. M. Gordon, first published in 1921. It recounts his Scots-Spanish background, schooling, soldiering in Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, and his later roles organizing Australia's colonial and Commonwealth forces. Those interested in imperial military history and a varied life of adventure will find it engaging.
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Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
The Chronicles of a Gay Gordon By Brig.-General J. M. Gordon, C.B. With Eleven Half-tone Illustrations Cassell and Company, Limited, London New York, Toronto and Melbourne 1921 Photo: Lafayette, Ltd., Glasgow. CONTENTS PAGE By Way of Introduction 1 Genealogical Table 7 Part I CHAPTER 1. My Scots-Spanish Origin 11 2. My Schooling 20 3. A Frontier Incident 30 4. First War Experience 35 5. My Meetings with King Alfonso 42 6. With Don Carlos Again 46 7. My First Engagement 53
8. Soldiering in Ireland 62 9. Unruly Times in Ireland 71 10. Sport in Ireland 77 11. A Voyage to New Zealand 87 12. A Maori Meeting 98 13. An Offer from the Governor of Tasmania 104 14. I Become a Newspaper Proprietor 109 15. A Merchant, then an Actor 120 16. As Policeman in Adelaide 132 Military Appointments and Promotions 147 Part II 1. Soldiering in South Australia 151 2. Polo, Hunting and Steeplechasing 162 3. The Russian Scare and its Results 175 4. The Soudan Contingent 185 5. A Time of Retrenchment 192 6. My Vision Fulfilled 200 7. The Great Strikes 209 8. The Introduction of “Universal Service,” and Two Voyages Home 215 9. Military Adviser to the Australian Colonies in London 224 10. Off to the South African War 232 11. With Lord Roberts in South Africa 238 12. In Command of a Mounted Column 244 13. Some South African Reminiscences 252 Part III 1. Organizing the Commonwealth of Australia 263 2. Commandant of Victoria 273 3. Commandant of New South Wales 281 4. Lord Kitchener's Visit to Australia 290 5. The American Naval Visit 302 6. Chief of the General Staff 308
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