In the penultimate of our series of articles celebrating local Victoria Cross recipients, we recount the remarkable service of William Eagleson Gordon - a distinguished veteran of the Second Boer War who would go on to be a personal assistant of King George V before his death and burial in Hindhead.

Gordon was born in Scotland in 1866, and began a long military career aged 20 - first seeing action as a lieutenant with the Gordon Highlanders in British India in 1895.

Shortly afterwards he followed his battalion to South Africa with the outbreak of the Second Boer War in 1899, and was wounded at the Battle of Magersfontein in December 1899.

More fierce fighting followed and the Highlanders suffered severe losses. But it was in the fighting south of modern-day Pretoria in July 1900, where the 34-year-old Gordon was to make his name.

By then a Captain, his VC citation notes Gordon went out alone under heavy fire “with the greatest coolness” to recover a stranded artillery wagon. Inspired by his gallantry, several men came to to help, and when some were hit, Captain Gordon saw the injured men back to safety.

“Captain Gordon's conduct, under a particularly heavy and most accurate fire at only 850 yards range, was most admirable, and his manner of handling his men most masterly; his devotion on every occasion that his Battalion has been under fire has been remarkable.”

In 1902, the 1st battalion Gordon Highlanders, Gordon among them, left Cape Town on the SS Salamis for Southampton.

Gordon was brevetted lieutenant-colonel in the Gordon Highlanders in 1907 and later served as Aide-de-camp to King George V before his retirement in 1923.

He died on March 10, 1941, aged 74, in Hindhead and is buried in St Alban’s Churchyard.

His Victoria Cross is on display at the Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen.