The Old Gordonstoun Tie

by Dr E G Mardon

There was a kinship built up while at Gordonstoun among the students that lasted a life-time. 

Lt E G Mardon of the Gordon Highlanders, seconded to the Mountain Guard, watched with interest as three battalions of British paratroop units dropped into the Suez Canal Zone in July of 1952. There were already 100,000 British troops guarding the Canal Zone.

A couple of days later Lt Mardon met Lt A Grey, OG, on the streets of the largest city. They both recognised each other immediately. Lt Grey had a problem. His Colonel had ordered him to arrange a cocktail party for the regiment and had invited General Francis Wogan Festing, commander of the 100,000 British Troops in the Canal Zone. Lt Grey’s job was to invite fifty girls, whose fathers would receive a letter from him for their daughters to attend.

Lt Mardon said no problem and to meet him in the Cathedral Square at 11:50 on Sunday morning. They went into the first pew that was roped off for British officers where they were joined by General Festing. After mass, Lt Mardon introduced his companion to the General.   Later Lt Mardon introduced Lt Grey to the secretary of the Suez Canal Company Executive, of which he was an honorary member. 

Within two hours, Lt Grey had met fifty daughters of the company’s Executive, had obtained the names and addresses of their fathers and had arranged transport in the fathers' new American automobiles. Lt Grey promised proper arrangements for the two and half score ladies to powder their noses. Every detail was taken care of.  Lt Mardon arrived fashionably late, was introduced to the paratroop Colonel, General Festing DSO and the Italian lady that he knew acted as the leader of the young ladies. The General danced and talked with her, (the Colonel had no Italian). The dance music had been decided beforehand by the girls. The British officer’s dancing was not perfect but there were no wallflowers. The two OC’s, one of whom spoke Italian, made sure everything ran smoothly.  Everybody really enjoyed themselves, with the exception of one. 

As in the fairy story, at the stroke of ten o’clock, the visitor and Lt Mardon disappeared.
The Colonel of the paratroopers asked the General who Lt Mardon was and how well he knew him.  The General replied “Well, we meet four or five times a month.” The bonds made at Gordonstoun last a lifetime!