James Duncan Gordon (1 January 1896 – 30 September 1918) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Family The son of James Duncan, and Blanche Eleanor Duncan, née De Wart, née Edwards, James Duncan Gordon was born in Williamstown, Victoria on 1 January 1896.
Football Recruited from Elsternwick, Gordon was a rover and half-forward who made his debut for Essendon, at the age of 18 years, against University on 9 August 1913; and, in that match, Gordon kicked the winning goal after the final bell.Essendon (9.8) Beat University (8.12): An Exciting Finish, The Age, (Monday, 11 August 1913), p.14. Shockingly, as of 2024, Essendon has never won a game with a goal after the siren since.
Military service He served as a bombardier in the army during World War I and was killed in action, in France, on 30 September 1918.Victoria's Roll of Honor: 444th Casualty List: Killed in Action: "Gordon, Gnr. J.D., Elwood", The Age, (Saturday, 23 November 1918), p,15.
His step-brother, Ewen James Gordon (1891–1916), who also served in the First AIF, was also killed in action (on 18 August 1916).In Memoriam: On Active Service: Gordon, The Argus, (Tuesday, 30 September 1919), p.1.Roll of Honour: Private Ewen James Gordon (2654), Australian War Memorial.
See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Footnotes
References A Young Athlete, Table Talk, (Thursday, 11 January 1912), p.6. First World War Nominal Roll: Bombardier James Duncan Gordon (4016), Australian War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Roll: Bombardier James Duncan Gordon (4016), Australian War Memorial. Roll of Honour: Bombardier James Duncan Gordon (4016), Australian War Memorial. Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996.
External links
Past-Player Profiles: James Gordon, essendonfc.com.