THE GORDON BOYS' HOME
Queen Victoria took the lead in demanding that a fitting National Memorial should be created for Britain's hero and martyr, General Charles George Gordon CB. The Queen being the first of an unbroken line of sovereign patrons whose interest has been maintained to the present day. The early full dress were tartan trousers, a dark blue jersey with G.B.H. embroidered on it and a Glengarry cap with plaid band and Gordon badge; while the undress evolved into green cord clothing with brass buttons.
The first home was established on a temporary basis at Fort Wallington, Nr Fareham, Hampshire, made available by the War Office on the 1st October 1885. On the 14th December 1887, some 100 Gordon Boys travelled to Brookwood Station from where they marched to West End headed by their twenty five strong newly formed Band to take up residence at their newly built home.
Discipline at the home was based on military lines with drill and marching. There were bugle calls the same as those used in the army, to call the boys to meals, collect post, parade etc. There were ranks within the Home like the army other ranks of L/Cpl, Cpl, Sgt and finally Colour Sgt – the senior rank in the home.
The Home colour was donated by Dr Hope of Chobham, who was the Home doctor and it was presented by Lady Elphinstone in 1895.
The Gordon Boys' Home motto was and still is "Semper Fidelis", "Ever Faithful" linked to "Right Fears no Might" which is the inscription on the Shield of Fortitude on Gordon's statue, now moved to the Embankment in London. This was originally unveiled on the 16th October 1888 in Trafalgar Square by Mr Plunket, First Commissioner of Works. Gordon is bareheaded and in undress uniform; his feet are encased in heavy riding boots, which are spurred and the left foot rests upon a broken cannon.
A wide response had followed the appeal for funds to build a permanent home at West End, Nr Woking, Surrey with the Queen and members of the Royal Family heading the list. Donations were received from the Lord Mayor of London, the Khedive of Egypt, The King of the Belgians, The Chinese Government and a host of individuals. Also the British Embassies in St Petersburg and Rome. The army of India and the Indian Civil Service also contributed, together with famous regiments of the British Army and also the Royal Navy.
The objective of the Home was to education and train in a variety of trades necessitous Boys from the age of 13 to 17 years in order to fit them for a life of usefulness in civil employment or in any branch of the armed forces in accordance with Gordon's expressed wishes. Thus was born a living institution. Over the years many more buildings were added. The Home housed some 220 boys and many trades were taught including tailoring, shoemaking, carpentry, engineering, gardening, clerical, music, cooking, baking and blacksmithing.
The dormitories and blocks were later given names connecting with Gordon's life. In 1943, the four accommodation blocks, previously A.B.C.D. were renamed, Khartoum, China, Woolwich and Gravesend. Khartoum had 4 dormitories called Omdurman, Nile, Sudan and Egypt.
China had 4 – Tai Ping, Soochow, Mandarin and Quinsan. Gravesend had 4, Scuttlers, Kings, Thames, Dockland. Woolwich had 3, Sappers, Arsenal, Kitchemer.
The Old Gordon Boys' Association was formed in 1912. Certain buildings were erected and named after famous Senior Royal Engineering Officers. The Library named after Field Marshal, Sir Lintorn Simmons, The Dining Hall, Kitchens and Bakery were built from funds subscribed by the Officers of the Royal Engineers in memory of Field Marshal Lord Napier of Magdala, Colonel Commandant R.E. who died in 1890. The detached Hospital was erected and named the Herbert Stewart Hospital through the generosity of Mr William Yateman and his wife in memory of General Sir Herbert Stewart who was killed near Abu Clea while leading the expedition to relive Gordon. The Gymnasium, which was considered superior to most in the country at the time was built by the generosity of Mr Andrew Hitchens CB, a Royal Engineer who was a close friend of Gordon.
The Home did not have a Chapel and all worship was done at the local West End Church of Holy Trinity with which the home had a close affinity. The building of the Chapel came about as a result of the royal connection with the Home. The Prince of Wales's eldest son, The Duke of Clarence and Avondale died tragically and Queen Victoria decided to build a Chapel on the grounds of the Home and dedicate it to her grandson. He, himself, had already done much to aid the Gordon Boys' Home in raising funds. The memorial tablet on the east wall of the Chapel records the dedication of the Chapel to the Duke of Clarence and Avondale.
The statue of Gordon which now stands on the School playing field was originally erected in St Martin's Place, London in 1902 but later that year was sent to Khartoum. In 1904 it was erected in Gordon Avenue in that great city where it stayed until 1958. Upon its arrival back in the UK and despite many claimants for its safe keeping, it arrived at the on the 2nd April 1959. The statue was unveiled with due ceremony by Lord Rugby on the 14 May 1960. A full report of the unveiling at the Gordon School is available on request.
In 1985 the house names were changed to those of Royal Houses but there still remain the names of Khartoum, China and Gravesend in the smaller buildings. The new House names are: Augusta, Balmoral, Buckingham, China, Gravesend, Kensington, Khartoum, Sandringham and Windsor. The name of the school has changed 3 times, The Gordon Boys’ Home, then The Gordon Boys’ School and in 1990, with the arrival of girls, the name changed to Gordon's School.
One of the most recent changes was to the Old Science Block which was built by the Boys in 1951/52 and is now a brand new state of the art Music and Drama Centre opened by Prince Edward in September 2008.
A lot of information about the School is contained in "The Gordon Heritage" (1885-1985) by Lt Col Derek Boyd RE – which unfortunately is now out of print and no longer available. There is a copy in the OGA Office for reference.
The Gordon School is now one of the most successful and sought after places of learning in the United Kingdom. In addition to its educational success over the years, the school also excels in sport, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. So popular and well known is it, that every vacancy is oversubscribed by 5 to 1. This is a truly remarkable success story to the life of the hero and martyr General Charles George Gordon CB (1833-1885), in whose memory the school was built.
Original Short History by
Roy Newman (5473)
Updated 2009 by Carole Willgoss