MAJOR GORDON DURING THE LIBERATION OF BRUGES IN 1918

The personal mission of Major Gordon in finding the British Nun Leahy

When Major Gordon was in London for the Silver Jubilee of King Georges V, a letter was sent to King Albert from a British mother who was desperate to find any news of her daughter, who was a nun at the English Convent in Bruges. King Albert wrote on the envelope, " give to Gordon to attend to". When Gordon received the letter, he wrote to the woman that Bruges was the most isolated city in the entire Belgium-occupied territory because the German submarine base was located there. During the liberation offensive, Gordon was reminded of the letter he was given in 1917.

Together with the Belgian officer, Major Dujardin, and the French officer Martin, they tried to find a suitable headquarters for King Albert. They choose Castle Loppem of Baron A. van Caloen. Afterwards, Major Gordon and Major Dujardin headed for the city of Bruges, which was very difficult because of the blown bridges. Once Bruges entered, their movement was held up again by the inhabitants who came in hundreds on the street, crazy with delight. Major Dujardin then went on foot to transact official business, while Major Gordon went to the English Convent to find the daughter of the mother who wrote to King Albert in London.

Major Gordon reached the front gate, met the Abbess, told his visit purpose and asked if sister Sealy was present at the Convent. The Abbess was overjoyed to see a British officer but replied that she didn't know anyone in the Convent or the area of Bruges with the name Sealy. After thinking it over, she asked if Major Gordon could have misread the name because there was a sister with the name Leahy. Gordon assumed this was the case, and sister Leahy was called upon immediately. After a few minutes, she appeared on the grill and almost tore it down after Major Gordon had informed her of her mother's letter. Leahy asked Major Gordon if he could wait for her so she could write some lines. Because Major Gordon knew Major Dujardin was on a tight schedule, he agreed to wait for only half an hour. Leahy vanished, and Major Gordon was offered tea and slices of bread in front of the grill. He learned that Leahy's sister's name was Mary Evangelist. After half an hour, she returned with some 40 letters instead of one. Major Gordon figured that Leahy informed countless other nuns that he was waiting outside, and they also took advantage of writing a letter. Major Gordon accepted all the letters, although army regulations state that a soldier can't carry any letters. He had to smuggle them across when he had to pick up Lord Curzon in London a few days later. The letters were posted immediately after Gordon arrived in England.

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