Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A framed pair of General Gordon’s Stars awarded during the Siege of Khartoum 1884-85

General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum 1884, silver, as awarded to officers of the rank Mulazem to Sagh

General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum 1884, pewter, as awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks, this attached by thread to a blue cloth backing

10 Piastres Khartoum Siege Banknote

The three items, with ivorine labels, set in an old Spink, London wooden, glass-fronted case, 245 x 170mm.; back of case with a paper clipping referring to the ‘Gordon Memorial Fund’, medals very fine (3) £1500-2000

From the collection of the late Felicité Ann Araminta, Lady Aldington (née MacMichael); the above probably given to her by her father, Sir Harold Alfred MacMichael, G.C.M.G., D.S.O. (1882-1969) who was heavily employed as a Colonial Administrator in Sudan. His first overseas posting in 1905 was with the Sudan Political Service, successively as Inspector of the Provinces of Kordofan, Blue Nile and Khartoum, and later he was a Political and Intelligence Officer with the Expeditionary Force which reoccupied Darfur in 1916; after which he was the Sub-Governor of Darfur Province. MacMichael was awarded the D.S.O. in 1917; awarded the C.M.G. in 1926 and received a knighthood with the award of the K.C.M.G. in 1932. During 1933-37 he was employed variously as Acting Governor-General, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Tanganyika Territory and during 1938-44 he was variously High Commissioner and Commissioner-in-Chief for Palestine and High Commissioner for Trans-Jordan. Awarded the G.C.M.G. in 1941.

The paper clipping reads: ‘Gordon Memorial Fund - Through the courtesy of the Egyptian Government, search was made to see if any of the notes issued by General Gordon during the siege of Khartoum had reached and been preserved in Cairo.

Some were found and the Prime Minister has presented them to the Governor-General, who intends disposing of them for the benefit of the Gordon Memorial Fund.

.... Anyone who wishes to obtain possession of one or more of these notes should apply to the Secretary, Gordon Memorial Fund, at the Palace, Khartoum, or care of Sudan Government London Office .....’