The Gordon School

The Gordon School was founded as the Gordon Boys' Home in 1885, financed by public subscription. The school was intended to be a national memorial to General Gordon, killed at Khartoum in January 1885. Gordon had undertaken charitable work among poor boys in Gravesend, Kent and the Gordon Boys' Home continued that work on a larger scale.

According to an 1893 account, the Home took in boys between the ages of 14 and 16, 'such lads, in fact, as Gordon welcomed into his Gravesend lodgings, coming direct from the town street where they have been running wild nearly all their life with little restraint beyond the fear of the police. The Home so trains them, and encourages their better natures, that of those it has started in the world as many as nine out of ten bear characters reported as good and very good.'

This contemporary illustration shows a 'candidate' for the Gordon Boys' Home upon entry as a poverty stricken waif, contrasting his healthy glow and fine military bearing following four months' training. Entrants lived in an atmosphere of 'airiness, cleanliness and orderliness' in barrack-like accommodation. The glengarry cap, dark blue tunic and Gordon tartan trews which are nowadays reserved for ceremonial use were then the everyday uniform of the boys and there was a good deal of military discipline leavened with muscular Christianity.

The Gordon Boys' Home was later renamed the Gordon Boys' School and as it expanded the institution began to accept a wider range of boys. However, the school continued to emphasise its 'traditions and humanely disciplined atmosphere, based on the Christian ethic' (from a 1970s prospectus).

The four Houses in the school are named after places connected with General Gordon's career. The junior House is Woolwich (where Gordon was born) and the other houses are China, Gravesend and Khartoum.

Gordon School boys are seen lined up for inspection by a House Corporal in this 1959 photograph. At that time 'day uniform' consisted of dark blue corduroy shorts, a navy blouson-style jacket worn with a shirt and tie, and the glengarry cap. The 1959 'Illustrated London News' report which included this picture records that the school had been run on military lines since its foundation and that the boys were 'extremely proud' of their military uniforms.

Gordon School cadets (left) and senior pupils in their traditional uniforms

Day uniform at the Gordon School is nowadays the standard British school blazer. Pupils wear military uniform for Combined Cadet Force activities and dress in the traditional Victorian uniform for special occasions. The school is now fully co-educational and occupies fine premises near Woking, in Surrey.

Nowadays Victorian hero figures such as General Gordon are noted to have possessed faults as well as virtues and the statue of the hero of Khartoum stands somewhat neglected upon the Thames Embankment in London. However, once a year a contingent of smartly-uniformed pupils from the school that bears his name marches to Gordon's statue to lay wreaths and remember his many achievements and gallant end.