RE Series No 9

28 January 1973.
General Charles Gordon - One of the Great Sappers.
Special Handstamp: Corps of the R.E. 140th Anniversary of the Birth of General Charles Gordon BFPS 1344, Silhouette of the top of the Mahdi's tomb in centre (see note below).

See: Wiki - Charles George Gordon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_George_Gordon . Note: See photo: The real spear & crescent are in gold and mounted on top of a white dome. This was the top of the Mahdi's tomb. After the British and Allied forces under Sir Herbert Kitchener recaptured Khartoum, after the Battle of Omdurman, the authorities decided to demolish the Mahdi's Tomb to prevent it being used as a focus for further insurrection. The top part was "rescued" and given to Queen Victoria. The top of the tomb was presented to the RE Museum and now is part of the actual display on Khartoum in the museum. (information provided by Lawrence Gilbertson.)

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