eterswald. I also obtained
permission from the Commissioner to invite my late police comrades to a
social evening at their barracks. That evening is one of the happiest
recollections of my life. During the months I had been with them I had
had no occasion, either as their instructor or while in charge of the
barracks, to find any fault with their work. We had been brought closely
together, and, if at times a few hard words had to be spoken as regards
their duties, they fully recognized that they were merited, and they bore
no personal ill-will. The South Australian Police were then, and have
been since, and are now, an efficient and fine body of men.

On January 1, 1882, I took up my duties at the Military Staff Office. My
mind was made up not to fail, but to give effect to the vision I had, at
the time of my interview with the general, which had pointed to the
Commandant's chair as my future lot.

How it was realized you will learn as you read on.

MILITARY APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS OF
BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOSEPH MARIA GORDON,
C.B.

1874--Joined Military Academy, Woolwich.
1876--Lieutenant, Royal Artillery.
1881--Police Instructor, South Australia.
1882--Staff Instructor, Military Forces, South Australia.
" --Lieutenant Commanding South Australian Permanent Artillery.
1883--Captain.
1885--Major.
1892--Lieutenant-Colonel on the Staff.
" --Acting Commandant.
1893--Colonel on the Staff.
" --Commandant, South Australian Military Forces.
1896--Re-appointed Commandant, under new Defence Act.
1898--Inspector, Warlike Stores, and Military Adviser for Australian
Colonies, in England.
1899--Returned to South Australia, Commandant.
" --Special Service Officer, South African War.
1900--Colonel, Imperial Land Forces.
" --Chief Staff Officer to all Overseas Colonial Forces, on
the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Roberts.
" --and commanded a Mounted Column, South Africa.
" --Brigadier-General, Adelaide.
1901--Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
1902--Commandant of the State of Victoria.
1905--Commandant of the State of New South Wales.
1912--Chief of the General Staff, Commonwealth Military Forces,
and First Member of the Military Board of Control, Australia.
Retired, owing to age limit, 1st August, 1914.

Part II

[Illustration: Lord Hopetoun, Marquis of Linlithgow]

CHAPTER I

SOLDIERING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

On January 2, 18