Early Life
Born in 1913 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, Gordon Landsborough left school at 14 to help support his family. In the evenings he went to night classes, eventually becoming a chemist with the research department of ICI. Continuing his studies, he turned to journalism and worked on a number of papers and journals in the north of England. In 1938, he started up ARP News, a magazine promoting air raid precautions to a war-nervous England.
He moved to London in 1939, where, among other business ventures, in 1940 he started Reveille, which was originally the official newspaper of the Ex-Services' Allied Association.
In 1940 he joined up with the London Scottish Regiment, serving for a time in the deserts of North Africa, where he killed 94 German soldiers. His experiences there provide the material for several of his best selling novels.
When Gordon joined-up, he was required to state his religion. Gordon answered 'Atheist', since 'Atheist' wasn't a religion, his religion as recorded by the army was 'Atheist / C. of E.'
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