He is remembered as Gordon of Khartoum', the city in the Sudan where he was killed by forces loyal to the Mahdi in 1885.

Also known as Chinese Gordon, the great military figure was born in 1833 and his family moved to Southampton where they lived in an elegant home at Rockstone Place, Southampton.

Commissioned in the Royal Engineers in 1852, Gordon served in the Crimean War, participated in surveying the Russo-Turkish frontier, and served in the second Opium War. He remained in China, reorganising the Ever Victorious Army', and leading it to a series of brilliant victories.

He was sent to Khartoum on February 18, 1884 with vague instructions from the Gladstone cabinet. Gordon evacuated some 2,600 civilians and soldiers before the city was blockaded in March.

A relief expedition failed to perform as named and he was killed on the steps of the governor's palace when the Mahdists stormed the place on January 26, 1885.

There is a Gordon family tomb in Southampton's Old Cemetery on the Common on which Gordon is commemorated. He is not buried there as no part of his body was recovered.

In the city's Queen's Park there is a memorial to him and a plaque on the family home at 5 Rockstone Place.

On the Queen's Park memorial, can be seen Chinese characters being the nearest representation to his name in that language.

Name: Major-General Charles George Gordon Occupation: British Army officer Date of Birth: January 28, 1833 DIED: January 26, 1885 Local Link: Lived in Southampton