title: Mysql sort date format
body: <p>I have an unavoidable situation where the dates are stored in UK date format, e.g.: </p>
  
  <pre class="lang-none prettyprint-override"><code>31/12/2001  00:00:00
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I need it in descending order, I've tried this but it errors </p>
  
  <pre class="lang-sql prettyprint-override"><code>select *, DATE_FORMAT(completiondate,'\%e/%c/%Y\') as cdate 
  from projects 
  where countries = 1 
  order by cdate desc
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Error:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the
    the right syntax to use near '' order by cdate desc'</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I'm using MySQL 4.1.9</p>