GORDON COLLEGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1939, Page 2

GORDON COLLEGE

TRIBUTE TO KHARTOUM HERO. The founding of Gordon College at Khartoum on January 5. 1899. was a tribute to the memory of General Charles George Gordon, one of Britain’s greatest soldiers, a man who had power to command men of non-Europ-ean races that was probably unique and the never-to-be-forgotten hero of Khartoum, in the Sudan.

After a distinguished career that embraced duties in China, Egypt and Cape Colony, Gordon was sent to the Sudan to deal with the position that had arisen with the revolt led by the Mahdi. Gordon arrived at Khartoum on February 18, 1884, and was well received but he failed to receive official co-operation, and in April it seemed that Gordon and the Sudan had been abandoned to their fate. By May Khartoum was completely isolated, and. but for the presence of Gordon, would have soon fallen. With energy and skill that were almost miraculous he organised the defence of the city so that it held out until January 26, 1885. Under pressure of public opinion the British Government .decided to take steps to relieve Gordon, but it was not until the beginning of November that the relief force was ready to start undeYthe command of Lord Wolseley. At length troops reached Khartoum on January 28, only to find that the place had been captured by the rebels, and that Gordon had been killed two days before.