I received a reply from the gordons, not what I was hoping for with regard to my relative but may help others researching the gordons, I have edited the reply below
“The Museum holds little or no information on individual enlisted soldiers who served in the Regiment. As you are aware, the full service records, if they still exist, for all pre 1921 soldiers are held at National Archives, Kew. Unfortunately during a WW2 air raid the records for more than 90% of soldiers of the Gordons of the circa WW1 era were destroyed. Like yourself, I can find no trace of any for a Walter Jones.
I can advise you that no soldier of that name was serving with the Gordons in 1911. The known muster rolls held at the Museum for some BNs at the start of WW1 also proved negative. Similarly no soldier named Walter Jones was on active service with the Regiment in a War Theatre during WW1.
What I can confirm from your photograph is he was certainly a Gordon Highlander in 1915. From the appearance of his two Private ranked comrades and himself I am of the opinion they were WW1 volunteers. The head-dress worn in the photograph, the Tam O’Shanter or TOS, did not come into wear until 1915. I can see no Territorial Force metal emblems on their tunic epaulettes which tends to suggest he and his two Private ranked comrades had been members of one of the Regiment’s Service Battalions which had been raised at the outbreak of WW1 for eventual service in France and Flanders. As all Gordon Highlander Front Line; including the Service; Battalions were on active service in France and Flanders by July 1915 then the photograph would be from around the Spring of 1915.
Without having access to Private Walter Jones’ service records, or finding any other source, I cannot give any answer as to why he would have been discharged back to civil life by 1916. I note he was killed at his civil employment in possibly a steel mill or similar establishment. It may well have been he was discharged from the Army due to the importance of his civil employment to the war effort.
I regret that I can add nothing further to the above report in this instance.”
I'm now getting a story 3rd or 4th hand that he was "blown up" ? could be anything.
I have donated £20 to the gordons. Many thanks for the above replies.