Description (Physical description)
Accession Register description for E 1916.68[.1-2] reads: 'A suit of chain armour with iron cone-shaped helmet and arm-pieces, gilt, and bearing, the former an inscription in a triangle, the latter an ornate brooch both in damascened work and the chain gimlets as well as the helmet are lined with quilted material.'
Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Acquisition Details)
Accession Register description for E 1916.68[.1-2] reads: 'Taken from the enemy who fought wearing this armour by General Gordon in one of the Soudanese [sic] fights with the Mahdi. [Donor] Lady Watson, given in memory of her late husband, Sir Charles Watson to whom this armour was given by General Gordon himself.'
Event Date
Author: Annie Tomkins

Context (Related Documents)
Museum display label found stored with E 1916.68[.1-2] reads: 'Suit of chain armour with gilded and damascened helmet and arm pieces. This armour was taken from the enemy, who fought wearing it, by General Gordon, in one of the fights with the Mahdi. Given by Lady Watson in memory of her husband to whom General Gordon gave the armour.'
Event Date
Author: Annie Tomkins

Context (Amendments / updates)
Object marked with Annual Report number.
Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Display)
E 1916.68[.1-2] was displayed as part of "Metal in Africa", an MAA exhibition, held in the Andrews Gallery, 26 September 1996- 28 February 1998
Event Date 26/9/1996
Author: Annie Tomkins

Description (Physical description)
Chain mail coming loose from cloth gloves.
Event Date 8/4/2003
Author: Annie Tomkins

Description (Physical description)
A metal helmet. Conical in shape with a pointed apex and slightly flanged band at the base. Gold in colour with a slightly rusted patina. The front of the helmet has an adjustable nose guard. In line with this and near the top are two protruding and curved sections of metal for decoration. At the base are holes from which a chain mail guard is suspended. The band has a triangle above the right eye with an inscription. There is a small circular hole at the back of the helmet with linear indentations at the cross-section. Taken in battle.
Event Date 20/1/2022
Author: Annie Tomkins

Context (Field collection)
General Charles Gordon was the Governor General of Ottoman-Egyptian Sudan from 1877-1879. He returned to Sudan in February 1884 to assist in the evacuation following the Mahdist uprising against the Ottoman-Egyptian Government (which began in 1881). He was killed in the Siege of Khartoum in January 1885. If this object was taken 'in one of the fights against the Mahdi' by General Gordon, he must have acquired it between February 1884 and January 1885.

Charles Watson and Charles Gordon were friends and both served in the Royal Engineers. They were in close contact in 1884 (see Lane Pool (1919) Watson Pasha. London; John Murray. pp .150-169). General Gordon's last known letter (14/12/1884, Royal Engineers Museum 4801.96.4) is addressed to Charles Watson.
Event Date 21/3/2022
Author: Zoe Cormack

Description (Inscription)
The helmet has a small Arabic inscription that appears to be the metal smith marking. The name 'Mohammed al-Hajj' [the metal smith?]; the word 'amal' meaning 'work'; letters including and f-, a, q- are discernible.
Event Date 22/3/2022
Author: Zoe Cormack