Mayor of Sydney's Soudan Medal : Captain L H Kyngdon, NSW Infantry

A silver medalet with a plain fob suspender on which is the word 'SOUDAN' in raised letters. The obverse shows the coat of arms of the City of Sydney below which is the word, 'JONES'. The reverse bears raised lettering around the edge 'PRESENTED BY THE CITIZENS OF SYDNEY. T.PLAYFAIR, MAYOR, 1885.', and in the centre a raised laurel wreath. The centre of the wreath is engraved 'CAPT L. H. KYNGDON NSWI'.

Also known as the 'Lord Mayor's Soudan Medal', this medalet was presented to Captain Leslie Kyngdon, NSW Infantry, upon his return from service with the NSW Sudan Contingent. 800 of these medalets were minted and presented by the Mayor of Sydney to members of the Contingent, who could then elect to have them engraved. Leslie Herbert Kyngdon was born in Exeter, United Kingdom, in 1860 and his family emigrated to Australia in 1878. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the NSW Volunteer Infantry in 1880, and was a captain and commander of D Company with the NSW Sudan Contingent in 1884. Kyngdon later transferred to the NSW Permanent Artillery and saw service during the Boer War as a Special Service Officer in the (British) Royal Artillery with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Between 1902 and 1910, Kyngdon held positions with the Artillery in Queensland, Western Australia, NSW and on Thursday Island. In 1910 he was promoted to colonel and placed in command of Royal Australian Artillery (coastal defences) in Queensland, Victoria and finally NSW. He was the inspector of coastal defences until June 1919 when he became temporary chief of ordnance. Placed on the retired list in November 1919 with the rank of honorary brigadier general, Kyngdon died of cancer on 11 April 1923 at Mount St Evins Hospital, Fitzroy, Melbourne. He is buried in Brighton Cemetery.