Major Ferdinand was the head of security at Mariah Learman's palace. After he was betrayed by Learman's allies he joined the rebel forces, headed by Priestly and Hart, to fight the Daleks' supreme rule.
The Eighth Doctor set up a spatial corridor from the mirror in his office. This proved useful to the Doctor's scheme. It helped them escape to the rebels hidey-hold. This allowed the Doctor return Charley Pollard to the right time and when the Doctor rigged up the a temporary mirror from silver foil, to escape captivity. He later sacrificed his life to destroy a Dalek with a grenade. (AUDIO: The Time of the Daleks)