Legion of Frontiersmen in Asia

General Charles Gordon

Legion of Frontiersmen in China (1800s)

Little historical records of the Legion of Frontiersmen were found in Asia in the 1800s. The only traceable record was a General Charles Gordon whose connection to the Legion is well known during the Taiping Rebellion (1850 - 1864). Charles Gordan was a Captain in the British Army and volunteered to serve in China. Charles gained the title "Chinese" Gordon for several victorious battles against a larger enemy size force. In March 1863 Charles took command of the force at Songjiang, which had received the name of "Ever Victorious Army." This Taiping Rebellion was recorded as the largest battle in China since the Qing conquest in 1644, and ranks as one of the bloodiest wars in human history, with estimates of war dead ranging from 20-70 million to as much as 100 million, with millions more displaced.

Walter Kirton was one of the first Frontiersman in China. Walter was involved in the Boer War first as a Galloper to Colonel Frank Rhodes and then in Rimington's Tigers where he was promoted to Captain in the Field by Lord Roberts. Historical records indicated he was the 20th founding member of the League of Frontiersmen.