in memory of Gordon Richard George, please visit our floral store. My sincerest condolences to the Gordon family for their loss. This eventually led to the Warlord Era and the Chinese Civil War which saw the communists defeat the nationalists and establish control over China. [201] Gordon told the civilians of Khartoum that anyone who wished to leave, even to join the Mahdi's army, were free to do so. [195], It took considerable time to hire the voyageurs in Canada and bring them to Egypt, which delayed the expedition. George Gordon Obituary - Temple Terrace, FL [17], On 18 June 1855, the besieging British and French armies began what was intended to be the final assault that would take Sevastopol, which began with a huge bombardment. 1Corinthians 15:54 . [47] The suffering of the Chinese people strengthened Gordon's faith, as he argued that there had to be a just, loving God who would one day redeem humanity from all this wretchedness and misery. George E. Harrington, 86 of Oswego. [73] Urban wrote that the best evidence suggests Gordon was a latent homosexual, whose sexual repression led him to funnelling his aggression into a military career with a special energy. He is survived by his wife and business partner of 30 years Jackie, whom he loved dearly; by his 5 children; granddaughters Jillianne of Garden City, MO, and Kohl and great granddaughters Ruth and Faith of Cheney, WA. [174] Gordon sent a telegram to Khartoum reading: "Don't be panic-stricken. [12], Gordon was apparently killed at the Governor-General's palace about an hour before dawn. My thoughts are will you all (Chelsea, Janine, Samantha and the grandkids). Gordon never married and is not known to have had a sexual or romantic relationship with anyone. With Egypt bankrupt, the money to carry out the reforms Gordon wanted was not there. We cannot bring ourselves to believe that we are to be abandoned". He loved their wives, Chelsea, Janine, and Samantha as if they were his own, a trait learned from the great and limitless love he received from his parents-in-law, Tom and Edna Lewis. [135] The British diplomat Thomas Francis Wade reported, "The Chinese government still holds Gordon Pasha in high regard", and were anxious to have him back to fight against Russia if war should break out. Asher concludes: "He did not save the country from invasion or disaster, but among the British heroes of all ages, there is perhaps no other who stands out so prominently as an individualist, a man ready to die for his principles. [151], In Jerusalem, Gordon lived with an American lawyer, Horatio Spafford, and his wife, Anna Spafford, who were the leaders of the American Colony in the Holy City. A militia of Europeans and Asians was raised for the defence of the city and placed under the command of an American, Frederick Townsend Ward, and occupied the country to the west of Shanghai. We always teased each other on and off the ice Im really going to miss you George. George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron FRS (22 January 1788 - 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and peer. We will forever be changed by both your life and your sudden absence in ours. [89], At the beginning of his reign in 1863, Egypt's debt had been 3 million Egyptian pounds. When your purchase is complete, a post will be made on the tribute wall of the deceased signifying the planting of a memorial tree. "[207], The relief force under General Wolseley, which set out from Wadi Halfa, was divided into two columns at Kortia 1,200-strong "flying column" or "desert column" of camel-borne troops which would cross the Bayuda desert to reach Metmemma on the Nile and meet Gordon's gunboats there, and the main column which would continue to advance along the Nile heading for Berber. [12], Despite the popular demand to "avenge Gordon", the Conservative government that came into office after the 1885 election did nothing of the sort. [83] Gordon and Gessi demanded that Ahmed Pasha allow them to meet the girl alone, had their request granted after much arm-twisting, and then met the girl, who ultimately revealed she wanted to go home. Baker met with great difficulties and managed little beyond establishing a few posts along the Nile. [47] Gordon was thus powerless when the Imperial forces executed all of the Taiping POWs, an act that enraged him. When I was 17 I started working, with George as my manager. [47], The Ever Victorious Army was entirely a mercenary force whose only loyalty was to money and whose men were interested in fighting only in order to gain the chance to plunder. He was born in Fortuna, CA 75 years ago to Winton and Evelyn Chase Gordon. His words started out with "I'm here to serve" and ended with those words, after humbly explaining all the amazing things he did at Sterling. After he arrived in Britain, Gordon announced to the press that he "did not want to board the tram of the world" and asked to be left alone. [62] Together with Mrs. Sarah Mackley, his housekeeper, he adapted two rooms at Fort House to serve as classrooms and basic needs resource rooms for boys living on the streets. Ismai'il's Chief of General Staff was the American general Charles Pomeroy Stone, and a number of other veterans of the American Civil War were commanding Egyptian troops. [187] The merchant recalled Gordon's response: "He called up the guard and gave the orders to shoot me if I moved" and ordered all of the lamps in the palace to be lit up as brightly as possible. George was such a great guy. When Gordon first arrived at the city of Galatz (modern Galai, Romania) in the Ottoman protectorate of Moldavia, he called the city "very dusty and not desirable at all as a place of residence". williams, clive anthony williams, eileen mabel wilson, radcliffe wood, edwin clifford woodgate, barry reginald james. Only when public pressure to act had become irresistible did the government, with reluctance, send a relief force. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Because of his knowledge and expertise, when George spoke, everyone listened. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Sending you my love. George graduated from. Gord was a fun-loving Uncle to five nephews and one . [203], In 1982, a documentary on Gordon's life was written and presented by the actor and historian Robert Hardy, entitled "Gordon of Khartoum". [93] The bribes that the slave traders offered for bureaucrats to turn a blind eye to the slave trade had far more effect on the bureaucrats than did any of Gordon's orders to suppress the slave trade, which were simply ignored. In the article, Stallard pointed to the egalitarianistic attitudes displayed by Gordon towards the Chinese, and argued that if Chinese historians paid closer attention to the activities of Gordon in China, it would improve Anglo-Chinese relations. [172] Gordon was well-received by a crowd of about 9,000 during his return to Khartoum where the crowd continually chanted, "Father!" [59] Gordon seemed pleased by his simple lifestyle, writing in a letter that: "One night, I slept better than I have for a long time, by a fire in a fisherman's hut". The Reverend Gordon Graham has taken the biblical injunction to "consider the lilies of the field" to extremes. Gordon's willingness to renounce his British citizenship in order to fight with China in the event of war did much to raise his prestige in China. Words cannot express how saddened we are to learn of George's sudden loss. Very sorry to hear of his passing. [2], Gordon grew up in England, Ireland, Scotland, and the Ionian Islands (which were under British rule until 1864) as his father was moved from post to post. After his conversation with Baring, Churchill wrote: "Of course there is no doubt that Gordon as a political figure was absolutely hopeless. It was removed in 1943. [117], Slavery was the basis of the Sudanese economy, and Gordon's attempts to end the slave trade meant taking on very powerful vested interests, most notably Rahama Zobeir, known as the "King of the Slavers" as he was the richest and most powerful of all the slave traders in the entire Sudan. [221] In 1887, the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition under Henry Morton Stanley set out to rescue Dr. Emin Pasha, still holding out in Equatoria against the Ansar. In early 1884, Gordon was sent to Khartoum with instructions to secure the evacuation of loyal soldiers and civilians and to depart with them. Staveley decided to clear the rebels within 30 miles (48km) of Shanghai in co-operation with Ward and a small French force. Dirk attended Lutie and Gainesville schools, St. Pauls of Concordia, Mizzou in Columbia and School of the Ozarks. Praying for you Nancy and family. Born in the Manse of Urquhart, Morayshire, on 23rd July, 1801, the son of the late Eev. [51] When the Emperor's messenger arrived, he had with him servants carrying boxes of silver taels (coins) numbering 10,000 in total, together with banners written in the most eloquent calligraphy celebrating Gordon as a great general and a letter from the Emperor himself written in the best calligraphy on yellow silk thanking Gordon for taking Suzhou and offering all these presents as rewards. Gordon". When he woke up again that afternoon, he found Gordon's body covered with flies and the head cut off. [187] In a letter that reached Cairo in December, Gordon wrote: "Farewell. George William Gordon Obituary - Tribute Archive [128] The eccentric Gordon was very religious, but he departed from Christian orthodoxy on a number of points. Gordon Averyt Murrill Obituary 2023 - Resthaven Gardens of Memory Faught also pointed out that the first hints that Gordon might secretly have been having sex with the boys of the Fort House were made by Lytton Strachey in his book Eminent Victorians (published 1918) which, in Faught's opinion, may have said more about Strachey than it did about Gordon. George was a wise, strong, hardworking, and unfailingly kind man. [51] A Scotsman who knew Gordon in China wrote: "he shows the Chinese that if even an able and reliable man, such as he is, is unmanageable". and "Sultan!" [203], During NovemberDecember 1884, Gordon's diary showed the stressful effects of the siege, as he was in a state of mental exhaustion, a man on the brink of madness. No; the conscience of the nation felt that a strain rested upon it". [218] Stones were thrown at the windows at 10 Downing Street as Gladstone was denounced as the "Murderer of Gordon", the Judas figure who betrayed the Christ-like figure of Gordon. Gordon Hoekstra Apr 15, 2011 1:00 AM. Second only to his faith, was the great joy George found in his family. The headless body of the Mahdi was thrown into the Nile. [54][55] Only forty men were allowed to wear the Yellow Jacket, which was the Emperor's ceremonial bodyguard, and it was thus a signal honour for Gordon to be allowed to wear it. [12], Gordon believed in both predestinationwriting that, "I believe that not a worm is picked up by a bird without the direct intervention of God"and free will with humans choosing their own fate, writing, "I cannot and do not pretend to reconcile the two". [200] The defences Gordon had built with lines of earthwork, mines, and barbed wire presented the Ansar with much difficulty and their attempts to storm Khartoum failed, but the Ansar made good use of their Krupp artillery to gradually batter down the defences. Staveley selected Gordon, who had been made a brevet major in December 1862 and the nomination was approved by the British government. We will strive to make you proud, and continue the Gordon legacy of faith you began. George GORDON | Obituary | London Free Press Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Pallbearers will be some of Gordon's beloved nephews. Planting will take place in Spring of the following year. [96] The other force for law and order were the much-feared bashi-bazouks, irregulars who were not paid a salary, but were expected to support themselves by looting. Always giving George graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in 1960 and went on to graduate from Purdue University in 1965, majoring in Electrical Engineering. Gordon hoped to have the influential local leader, Sebehr Rahma, appointed to take control of Sudan, but the British government refused to support a former slaver. [166] Urban wrote: "The Pall Mall Gazette articles, in short, began a new chapter in international relations; powerful men using media manipulation of public opinion to trigger war. He ran Gordon's Flea Market for over 50 years and was the owner of Gordon's Construction Company. Obituary. [88] The languages of Khedive's court were Turkish and French, not Arabic. [12] The Romanian historian Eric Tappe described Gordon as a man who developed his own "very personal peculiar variety of Protestantism". [71] The Dictionary of National Biography described Gordon as a great "boy lover". George Gordon Obituary George GORDON / GEORGE / HANSLOW | Obituary | Vancouver Sun and Province My Prayers are with all your family especially Nancy and children and Grandchildren. Peacefully, in Migdale Hospital, Bonar Bridge, on Saturday, 18th February, 2023, Robert "Bobby" George Bain, The Bungalow, Lower Gledfield Farm, Ardgay. His students and attendees have included people from Australia, New Zealand, Ukraine, Canada, Ireland and all 50 states all of whom traveled to and stayed in Isabella. [106], Moreover, considerable progress was made in the suppression of the slave trade. [187], Gordon energetically organised the defence of Khartoum right from the moment he arrived in Khartoum, using his training as a military engineer to turn the city into a fortress. Doreen Sargeant. Obituaries | Bedford Borough Council [184] The British government had decided to abandon the Sudan, but it was clear that Gordon had other plans, and the public increasingly called for a relief expedition. [25] Gordon called the Romanians the "most fickle and intriguing people on the earth. OBITUARY George Forbes Gordon March 28, 1938 - May 15, 2022 It is with heavy hearts we bid a final farewell to Mr. George Forbes Gordon, 84, of Fountain Valley, California, who departed our world on May 15, 2022. The columns are surmounted by carved capitals supporting a cross. The employees sent by the Moldovan government to take over the ceded territory have been receiving bribes and trafficking in the most disgraceful manner. [40] Gordon's bravery in battle, his string of victories, apparent immunity to bullets and his intense, blazing blue eyes led many Chinese to believe that Gordon had supernatural powers and had harnessed the Qi (the mystical life-force traditionally believed in China to govern everything) in some extraordinary way. Geoffrey FitzClarence, 3rd Earl of Munster - Wikipedia It is with heavy hearts the family of Don Bowen announce his passing at the Northumberland Hills Hospital Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the age of 79. [29], Gordon was intensely bored with garrison duty in Chatham and often wrote to the War Office, begging them to send him anywhere in the world where British arms were seeing action. Love, [31] When Gordon arrived at Hong Kong, he was disappointed to learn he was "just too late for the fighting". [199] The American historian Cynthia Behrman wrote that the articles all commented upon "Gordon's religious faith, his skill with native peoples, his fearlessness in the face of danger (a recurrent motif is Gordon's habit of leading his troops into battle armed with no more than a rattan cane), his honor, his resourcefulness, his graciousness to subordinates, his impatience with cant and hypocrisy, his hatred of glory and honors, his dislike of lionization and social rewards, and on and on. He. Im so grateful that my sister and nephews had such a wonderful father-in-law and grandpa. Gordon was nostalgic for China, and knowing of the Sino-Russian crisis, he saw a chance to do something significant. American historian James Perry wrote: "But instead of following instructions, he stayed put, longing for martyrdom. The French hoped that conquering the Sudan would allow them to lever the British out of Egypt, and thus restore Egypt to the French sphere of influence. Gordon grew up in Climax, Sask., and worked in the Grain industry all his life, which he loved. He was predeceased by : his parents, Charles Ross and Sara Tabener Ross; his siblings, William Ross, Charles Ross and Betsy Ross Meyer; and his siblings-in-law, Delleney Ruff and Melinda Ruff. He was the widower of Kay Stull Gordon whom he married May 28, 1977, and preceded him in death on November 23, 2017. For some years, the Taipings gradually advanced eastwards, but eventually they came close enough to Shanghai to alarm the European inhabitants. I wish there was anything I could do to help take away some of your pain. During his time in Anatolia, Gordon embraced the new technology of the camera to take what the Canadian historian C. Brad Faught called a series of "evocative photographs" of the people and landscape of Armenia. [12], The American historian Byron Farwell strongly implied in his 1985 book Eminent Victorian Soldiers that Gordon was a homosexual, for instance writing of Gordon's "unwholesome" interest in the boys he took in to live with him at the Fort House, and his fondness for the company of "handsome" young men. How I look forward to their disbandment". George Gordon Obituary (1925-2021) - Grand Rapids Press [56] The savage Taiping Rebellionwhich was the bloodiest war of the entire 19th century, taking somewhere between 20 and 30 million livesis largely forgotten in the West today, but at the time, the civil war in China attracted much media attention in the West, and Gordon's command of the Ever Victorious Army received much coverage from British newspapers. Finally, after much prompting on Stead's part, Gordon opened up and attacked Gladstone's Sudan policy, coming out for an intervention to defeat the Mahdi. "[193], On 9 September 1884, an armoured steamer, the Abbas, on its way to Cairo, was captured by the Ansar for the first time and all aboard were killed. Thence he returned to Cairo and resigned his Sudan appointment. Christopher Paul Senior. [256] Like Strachey, Beatty found Gordon a ridiculous figure, but unlike Strachey, who had nothing but contempt for Gordon, Beatty's approach was a compassionate one, arguing that Gordon's many acts of charity and self-sacrifice were attempts to love others since he was unable to love himself. [81], In October 1871, he was appointed British representative on the international commission to maintain the navigation of the mouth of the River Danube, with headquarters at Galatz. [141] After speaking so bluntly, Gordon was ordered out of the court in Beijing, but was allowed to stay at Tianjin. He loved family gatherings, playing games and eating home-cooked meals, and he was never too full to enjoy a bowl of ice cream, his favourite treat. [98], After a short stay in Cairo, Gordon proceeded to Khartoum via Suakin and Berber. [43] At times, Gordon feared that assaults by the Taiping would take the Hyson, but all the attacks were repulsed. [257] On the basis of such statements and actions, Nutting argued that Gordon's suicidal courage of going into battle armed only with his rattan cane, which so impressed the Victorian public, reflected darker desires. To follow George's story, enter your email. His moods were capricious and uncertain, his passions violent, his impulses sudden and inconsistent. [235] Shut for the closing years of World War II, it reopened in 1947 under the same name, but serving as a psychiatric unit operated by the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. When oil mixes with water, we will mix together". So, therefore, I believe in our active employment in a future life, and I like the thought. [148] Gordon was promoted to major-general on 23 March 1882. Tribute will contact you if there are any issues. [160], The only other place to hold out for a time was a region in the south held by the Governor of Equatoria, Emin Pasha. [170], Gladstone felt that this was a deft political move. GORDON, George After meeting Gordon in 1874, the Khedive Isma'il had said: "What an extraordinary Englishman! "[129] Gordon was an ardent Christian cosmologist, who also believed that the Garden of Eden was on the island of Praslin in the Seychelles. Their wishes for cremation have been honored. [138], Gordon informed the Foreign Office that he was willing to renounce his British citizenship and take Chinese citizenship as he would not abandon Li and his other Chinese friends should a Sino-Russian war begin. February 2, 2023 The English uniform produces an immediate sensation". George was born January 27, 1994 in Fort Worth, Texas where he enjoyed going to the zoo and riding his jeep in the park and at Granny Janny's house. ObituaryRev. Write your message of sympathy today. [154] Gordon's interest was prompted by his religious beliefs, as he had become an evangelical Christian in 1854. He was first and foremost a passionate follower of Jesus Christ and lived his life in humble but firm faith, pressing on towards the upward call he felt from a young age. It was such a gift to have had known you. Always trusting At the beginning of 1884, Gordon had no interest in the Sudan and had just been hired to work as an officer with the newly-established Congo Free State. Many Taipings were willing to surrender only if the Imperial government would spare the lives of themselves and their families. Gordon accepted the offer, but shortly after arriving in India, he resigned. [93], Gordon remained in the Equatoria province until October 1876. [123] As Zobeir had broken his oath to the khedive by rebelling, Gordon had given Gessi orders to execute Zobeir, and so later that day Gessi had Zobeir and his men publicly beheaded as an example of what happened to those who broke their oaths. However, in 1953 the statue, minus a large slice of its pedestal, was reinstalled on the Victoria Embankment, in front of the newly-built Ministry of Defence main buildings. Prince George Obituaries - Prince George Citizen George was a wise, strong, hardworking, and unfailingly kind man. [35] Gordon was attached to his staff as engineer officer. Sir Gordon Downey, who has died aged 93, leaves a substantial legacy of parliamentary and government scrutiny. You rest easy my friend. [184] One Cabinet minister wrote: "The London newspapers and the Tories clamor for an expedition to Khartoum, the former from ignorance, the latter because it is the best model of embarrassing us Of course it is not an impossible undertaking, but it is melancholy to think of the waste of lives and the treasure which it must involve". I got to know George thru his sons, Greg and Tom, long before I actually met him. P.O. He was exhausted by years of incessant work. My friend [92] Urban wrote that most of the Westerners in Egyptian pay were "misfits" who took up Egyptian service because they were unable to get ahead in their own nations. [59], During a visit to Bulgaria, Gordon and Gessi become involved in an incident when a Bulgarian couple told them that their 17-year-old daughter had been abducted into the harem of an Ottoman pasha, and asked them to free their daughter. If I cannot, I shall retire to the Equator and leave you with the indelible disgrace of abandoning the garrisons". Following the destruction of Hicks's army, the Liberal Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone, decided that the Sudan was not worth the trouble it would take to keep, and that the region should be abandoned to the Mahdi. [68], Every year, Gordon gave away about 90% of his annual income of 3,000 (equivalent to 351,000 in 2021) to charity. [196] For example, Wolseley could have hired Egyptian boatmen who knew the Nile to serve as river pilots instead of bringing over voyageurs from Canada, who knew nothing of the Nile, and moreover, Wolseley only called for the voyageurs after his arrival in Egypt. [219] Wolseley, who had been led to believe that his expedition was the initial phase of an operation to re-conquer the Sudan, was furious, and in a telegram to Queen Victoria contemptuously called Gladstone "the tradesman who has become a politician". The troops reached Korti towards the end of December, the small "Desert Column" reaching Metemma on 20 January 1885, fighting the Battle of Abu Klea[198] on 18 January and Abu Kru (or Gubat) en route. He was so erratic, capricious, utterly unreliable, his mood changed so often, his temper was abominable, he was frequently drunk, and yet with all that, he had a tremendous sense of honour and great abilities". [39] Unlike Ward and Burgevine, Gordon realised that the network of canals and rivers that divided the Chinese countryside were not obstacles blocking an advance, but were rather "arteries" for allowing an advance as Gordon decided to move his men and supplies via the waterways. Always kind In a world moving inexorably towards conformity, it would be well to remember Gordon of Khartoum. [178] Additionally, Gordon had guns and armoured plating attached to the paddle wheel streamers stationed at Khartoum to create his own private riverine navy that served as an effective force against the Ansar. [50] The Ever-Victorious Armywhich was inclined to lootinghad been ordered not to enter Suzhou, and only Imperial forces entered the city. [236], In 1888, a statue of General Gordon by Hamo Thornycroft was erected in Trafalgar Square, London, exactly halfway between the two fountains. [237], An identical statue by Thornycroftbut with the pedestal intactis located in a small park called Gordon Reserve, near Parliament House in Melbourne, Australia. George Leslie Gordon July 18, 1939 - March 12, 2022 George Leslie Gordon, 82, of Pynn's Brook, NL, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2022, at the Corner Brook Long-term Care Home. [137] Gordon arrived in Shanghai in July and met Li Hongzhang, and learned that there was risk of war with Russia. Yet, for those who have experienced the death of a family member or friend, an obituary means so much more. Gordon William Hatley 06-Dec-1960 - 23-Feb-2023 Overview Overview . If you wish to make a donation, please consider one of the charities listed below. Sign the Guest Book. (for "Grand Old Man"), to "M.O.G." May God wrap His mighty arms around each of you at this time! [5] After her death, her place as Gordon's favourite sibling was taken by his very religious older sister Augusta, who nudged her brother towards religion. I have a splendid camel-none like it; it flies along and quite astonishes the Arabs". [193], To keep up morale, Gordon had a military band perform concerts in the central plaza every Friday and Sunday evenings for free, and cast his own decorations for his men. [43] Gordon wrote: "The great thingis to cut off their retreat, and the chances are they will go without trouble; but attack them in the front, and leave their rear open, and they fight most desperately". [189] The black Sudanese troops, many from what is now South Sudan, proved to be Gordon's best troops at Khartoum and numbered about twenty-three hundred. [48] After Gordon had surrounded Burgevine's force outside of Suzhou, the latter had abandoned his own men and attempted to rejoin the Imperial side, leading Gordon to arrest him and send him to the American consul in Shanghai together with a letter asking that Burgevine be expelled from China. [43], Gordon then reorganised his force and advanced against Kunshan, which was captured at considerable loss. Ever since the realisation of the sacrament, I have been turned upside down". The Mahdi contemptuously rejected Gordon's offer and sent back a letter demanding Gordon convert to Islam. [201] About half of the population took up his offer to promptly leave the city. In defiance of those instructions, after evacuating about 2,500 civilians he retained a smaller group of soldiers and non-military men. [159], With public opinion demanding that Gordon be sent to the Sudan, on 16 January 1884, the Gladstone government decided to send him there, albeit with the very limited mandate to report on the situation and advise on the best means of carrying out the evacuation. [134], Hardly had Gordon resigned when he was invited to Beijing by Sir Robert Hart, inspector-general of customs in China, saying his services were urgently needed in China as Russia and China were on the verge of war. Gordon was bored with the work of the Danube commission, and spent as much time as possible exploring the Romanian countryside, whose beauty enchanted Gordon when he was not making visits to Bucharest to meet up with his old friend Romolo Gessi, who was living there at the time. Would you like to offer George Gordon Rosss loved ones a condolence message?