The General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum

• Time Period: Pre-WW1
• Year of Institution: 1884
• Country: Great Britain

The General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum is a British campaign medal established in 1884 and created by Charles Gordon to boost the morale of the garrison at Khartoum.

Several serious defeats of Egyptian forces in 1884 led to a concerted British campaign in defence of Egyptian claims, but control could not be recovered. The British withdrew their forces to Egypt and to Khartoum, where General Gordon defended the city whilst awaiting a relief column that, beset by Mahdist attacks, arrived too late. Gordon had the star cast locally in a sand mould, using his own breast star of the Turkish Order of Mejidieh as the model.

When a recipient had to purchase their medal, the proceedings went to a fund to feed the poor. Payne reported a story which suggests that owners of these stars became particular targets of the Mahdi’s vengeance.

The General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum Design

The medal is a seven-pointed silver or pewter star measuring 80 mm high and 54 mm wide, with three concentric circles and seven groups of rays. On each ray are superimposed seven crescents and stars.

The obverse depicts a central boss in a circle with three Arabic enclosed inscriptions and chevrons between them. The reverse is plain.

The medal is suspended by a ring from a Crescent and Star ornament. The ribbon is deep blue or red.