Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, Major Gordon's guest during het conference for the Institute of National Law, received in autumn 1905 the task to find a private secretary for the 4th Duke of Wellington, Arthur Charles Wellesly. Sir Wallace contacted Major Gordon and asked him to agree that his name would go forward. Major Gordon was honoured and agreed. A few days later, he was invited to stay with the Duke and his family at the estate of Ewhurst Park, near Bastingstoke. After a short stay, Major Gordon received the job and was told to take up his position at Apsley House in London at the beginning of February 1906. At Apsley House, Major Gordon mainly took part in the social duties of the Duke and his wife, the Dutchess Kathleen Emily Bulkeley Williams. Major Gordon also curated the Duke's museum and the Waterloo Gallery. During his early days at Apsley House, the Duchess organised a Royal Ball in the gallery where Edward VII and Queen Alexandra were the guests of honour together with some thirty other British and foreign royal family members.
