THE annual memorial service for Charles George Gordon took place at the Gordon Memorial Gardens in Gravesend on Friday.

This year marked the 129th anniversary of his death at Khartoum and was marked by a service officiated by Rev Graham Herbert from Milton Church.

Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Derek Sales who along with pupils from Chantry School, members of the Royal Engineers Association and the president of Gravesend and Meopham Rotary Club, laid flowers placed at the foot of Gordon’s Memorial.

The Gravesend Borough Band with additional members from the Salvation Army also played musical accompaniment to the service while members of the Gads Hill School Combined Cadet Force also attended as guard of honour.

British general Charles Gordon became a national hero for his exploits in China and his ill-fated defence of Khartoum against Sudanese rebels.

Gordon lived and worked in Gravesend between 1865 and 1871.

During that time showed great generosity and kindness to the poor people of the borough.

He was appointed to upgrade the various fortifications along the Thames which included the New Tavern Fort.

He lived in Fort House in the grounds of the New Tavern Fort.

The building was demolished following an explosion caused by a V2 rocket in 1944.