This eventually led to the Warlord Era and the Chinese Civil War which saw the communists defeat the nationalists and establish control over China. [100], Gordon established a close rapport with the African peoples of Equatoria such as the Nuer and Dinka, who had long suffered from the activity of Arab slave traders, and who naturally supported Gordon's efforts to stamp out the slave trade. Sign the Guest Book. Find an Obituary. [159] The Ansar captured a large number of Remington rifles and ammunition cases together with many Krupp artillery guns and their shells. My heart breaks for George's family because we went through the same not too long ago with my own George.. [79] The South African minister, Dr. Peter Hammond, denied that Gordon was a homosexual, citing the numerous statements made by Gordon condemning homosexuality as an abomination, charging that the claim that Gordon was a homosexual was a theory with no foundation in fact. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of George Gordon Ross (Columbia, South Carolina), born in Berkeley, California, who passed away on February 2, 2023 at the age of 89. [102], Gordon, despite his position as an official in the Ottoman Empire, found the Ottoman-Egyptian system of rule inherently oppressive and cruel, coming into increasing conflict with the very system he was supposed to uphold, later stating about his time in the Sudan, "I taught the natives they had a right to exist". The clash led to Gordon informing the Khedive that he did not wish to return to the Sudan, and he left for London. His subordinate, Gessi Pasha, fought with great success in the Bahr-el-Ghazal district in putting an end to the revolt there. Cremation has taken place. [128] The eccentric Gordon was very religious, but he departed from Christian orthodoxy on a number of points. My Prayers are with all your family especially Nancy and children and Grandchildren. George was predeceased by his father, and is survived by his mother. We are very sorry to hear about George, It seems we never seem to get together until we have a reason like this. [172], Due to public opinion, the government dared not sack Gordon, but the Cabinet was extremely angry about Gordon's insubordination, with many privately saying if Gordon wanted to defy orders by holding Khartoum, then he only deserved what he was going to get. It is a bittersweet reminder of all we've lost, but it can also help us to remember all we enjoyed while they were alive. Lorraine was born June 16, 1928 in Rochester the daughter of John and Edna (Brugger) Angie. He was exhausted by years of incessant work. [218] In a sermon, the Bishop of Chichester stated: "Nations who envied our greatness rejoiced now at our weakness and our inability to protect our trusted servant. [94], The siege of Khartoum by the Mahdist forces, commanded by the Mahdi himself, started on 18 March 1884. He loved his Heavenly Father and his Saviour, and he was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for which he held many positions and worked faithfully in many capacities. 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". "[175] Even Wolseley had cause to regret sending Gordon, as the general revealed himself to be a loose cannon whose press statements attacking the Liberal government were "obstructing rather than furthering his plans to take over the Sudan". I also had the honour of working with George for many years and I will miss seeing his smile. [43], On the morning of 30 May 1863, the Taiping forces guarding the town of Quinsan were astonished to see an armoured paddle streamer, the Hyson, armed with a 32-pounder cannon on the bow, sailing up a canal, at whose prow stood Gordon. Exhausted, he resigned and returned to Europe in 1880. Liberal government delivered on Friday $3 million to the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition to be used during the next three years to implement a . Gordon, who once said to a Roman Catholic priest that "the church is like the British Army, one army but many regiments", never aligned himself with or became a member of any church. "[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. Second only to his faith, was the great joy George found in his family. George Gordon - Wynyard, Saskatchewan , Conley Funeral Home - Memories wall BROUGHT TO YOU BY Conley Funeral Home George Melvin Gordon Wynyard, Saskatchewan November 9, 1968 - May 13, 2020 Share Obituary: Tribute Wall Obituary & Events Share a memory Send Flowers Share a memory of George Melvin Gordon. Alone in [Africa], dauntless and unfaltering, he discharges his great trust, holding the capital of the Sudan against the beleaguering hordes". The Foreign Secretary, Lord Grenville, wondered if they had just committed a "gigantic folly". If you are having trouble, click Save Image As and rename the file to meet the character requirement and try again. Due to seasonal conditions, the tree planting takes place during the spring and summer. So, therefore, I believe in our active employment in a future life, and I like the thought. Orphali was knocked unconscious and did not see Gordon die. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. [140], Gordon further advised the Qing court that it was unwise for the Manchu elite to live apart from and treat the Han Chinese majority as something less than human, warning that this not only weakened China in the present, but would cause a revolution in the future. His Irish-Italian family raised him. In a House of Commons speech on 5 May 1948, then opposition leader Winston Churchill spoke out in favour of the statue's return to its original location: "Is the right honorable Gentleman [the Minister of Works] aware that General Gordon was not only a military commander, who gave his life for his country, but, in addition, was considered very widely throughout this country as a model of a Christian hero, and that very many cherished ideals are associated with his name? [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. When I was 17 I started working, with George as my manager. Under heavy fire from Ansar warriors on the bank, the two steamers turned back downriver. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time. Survived by his daughter, Melanie (Barry) Thompson. [122] On 15 July 1879, Gessi finally captured Zobeir together with 250 of his men. An interment will take place in Raymond at the Temple Hill Cemetery following the service. He was a devoted husband and a loving, tender, and selfless man who made many friends during his lifetime. An Egyptian expedition was completely defeated near Gundet. The Aylmer Flickering Flames Hockey Club wish the entire Gordon Family our deepest sympathies during this sad time. 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. He attended schools in Ferndale and Eureka, CA. The Mahdi and his followers had been fighting a jihad since 1881 and looked forward to taking on the famous General Gordon as a chance to win glory for Allah. For the family, Your Grief will run deep in the months to come. [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. [46] One British officer serving with the Ever Victorious Army described Gordon at this time as: "a light-built, wiry, middle-sized man, of about thirty two years of age, in the undress uniform of the Royal Engineers. He loved Nancy, his cherished wife of 39 years, as Christ loved the church. The "Ever-Victorious Army" resumed its high tempo advance, leading to the Battle of Changzhou, and culminating in the capture of Changzhou Fu, the principal military base of the Taipings in the region. The repression of Gordon's sexual instincts helped to release a flood of celibate energy which drove him into weird beliefs, eccentric activities, and a sometimes misplaced confidence in his own judgement. [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. He was always professional, approachable, kind, helpful and had an easy smile. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and has been regarded as among the greatest of English poets. You used to tell me darn I can't hide when I used to come to your office with an issue. [257] Behrman wrote that the first part of Nutting's thesis, that Gordon had a death wish, is generally accepted by historians, but the second part, that Gordon was homosexual, is still the subject of much debate. [174], The Mahdi ended his letter with the remark: "I am the Expected Mahdi and I do not boast! She grew up in Rochester and also resided in Caledonia and for the majority of her life in Wayland. When the news of the defeats reached Ansar besieging Khartoum, terrible cries of lamentation rose from the besieging force, which led Gordon to guess that the Ansar had been defeated in battle and that Wolseley must be close. There was many an early Sunday morning where I would have to phone him at home with some technical issue. Send Flowers: When Is the Ordering Deadline? [181], The advance of the rebels against Khartoum was combined with a revolt in the eastern Sudan. [25] As the maps that delineated the Russian-Ottoman frontier were all old and inaccurate, Gordon spent much time clashing with his Russian counterparts about where precisely the frontier was and soon discovered that the Russians were very keen to have the frontier on the Danube, which Gordon had orders from London to prevent. [68], Every year, Gordon gave away about 90% of his annual income of 3,000 (equivalent to 351,000 in 2021) to charity. My condolences to all of George's family, and may they be comforted that George is in heaven with Jesus, looking after us all. Would you like to offer George Gordon Rosss loved ones a condolence message? Jamie graduated from Baker High School in 1985, where he was a talented and . [148] Gordon was promoted to major-general on 23 March 1882. Other lives: Art lover who helped create a radio station, bank, orchestra and arboretum in his passion for making positive social change With Egypt under British rule, the British also inherited the problems of Egypt's colony, the Sudan, which the Egyptians were losing control of to the Mahdi. After Gordon's death, Barnes co-authored Charles George Gordon: A Sketch (1885),[126] which begins with the meeting at the hotel in Lausanne. [163] Gordon offered up a 19th-century anticipation of the domino theory, claiming: The danger arises from the influence which the spectacle of a conquering Mahometan Power established close to your frontiers will exercise upon the population which you govern. My heart goes out to the entire family and friends for the loss of dear George. Gordon passed away peacefully Monday, October 31 at theglorious age of 91, at Good Samaritan Prairie Ridge in Raymond. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. 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. To plant a tree in memory of George GORDON, please visit. When your purchase is complete, a post will be made on the tribute wall of the deceased signifying the planting of a memorial tree. [40], No monuments to Gordon exist in China today, though the British journalist Rob Stallard noted that the modest Gordon would have no doubt wanted it that way. He quickly learned that before he could establish stations to crush the slave trade, he would have to first explore the area to find the best places for building them. [224] This symbolic decapitation echoed General Gordon's death at the hands of the Mahdist forces in 1885. Karen and I were shocked and saddened to hear of Georges passing. GORDON, George Colburn. 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. He remained in Mauritius until March 1882. Your search results for obituary: 24 newspaper articles contained information about obituary filtered by: Newspaper title: Wishaw Press Date from: 1st Jan 1947 - Date to: 31st Dec 1947 You will be taken to the charity's website to process your payment. Words cannot express how saddened we are to learn of George's sudden loss. ObituaryRev. I shared a busride home with him a long time ago and we had the most pleasant conversation. He was shot! Gordon never married and is not known to have had a sexual or romantic relationship with anyone. [40], Gordon was honest and incorruptible, and unlike many Chinese officers, did not steal the money that was meant to pay his men, but rather insisted on paying the Ever Victorious Army on time and in full. Ever since the realisation of the sacrament, I have been turned upside down". [53], The Emperor promoted Gordon to the rank of tidu (: "Chief commander of Jiangsu province" a title equal to field marshal), decorated him with the imperial yellow jacket, and raised him to Qing's Viscount first class, but Gordon declined an additional gift of 10,000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury. [50] The Ever-Victorious Armywhich was inclined to lootinghad been ordered not to enter Suzhou, and only Imperial forces entered the city. He also rented a small house in East Terrace for working boys to be taught for free. Obituary. Obituaries & obituary notices in Glasgow. By September 1882, the Egyptian position in the Sudan had grown perilous. [96], The Khedive asked for Gordon to succeed Baker as the governor of Equatoria province that comprised much of what is today South Sudan and northern Uganda. The Reverend Reginald Barnes, who knew him well, describes him as "of the middle height, very strongly built". [132], Gordon rejected Leopold's offers, partly because he was still emotionally attached to the Sudan and partly because he disliked the idea of working for Leopold's Congo Association, which was a private company owned by the King. 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. "Death is swallowed up in victory." Isabella, MO 65676. Tribute will contact you if there are any issues. [22] As he travelled to Bessarabia, he commented in his letters home about the richness and fertility of the Romanian countryside, which produced delicious fruits and vegetables in great abundance, and the poverty of the Romanian peasants. can stop at any time. Last modified on Thu 21 Apr 2022 12.52 EDT. [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. [37] Burgevine was an unsavory character known for his greed and alcoholism. [209], The Ansar began their final attack by storming the city via the gap in the defence caused by the low Nile and after an hour's fighting, the starving defenders had abandoned the fight and the city was theirs. Acton, NH George E. Gordon, 69 of Acton, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 26, 2022, after a long period of declining health at Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington,. [142] After meeting with him there, Hart described Gordon as "very eccentric" and "spending hours in prayer", writing that: "As much I like and respect him, I must say he is 'not all there'. Powers was delighted that the charismatic Gordon had no anti-Catholic prejudices and treated him as an equal. All the Europeans, with some rare exceptions, whom he has honoured with his confidence have cheated him. Gordon William Hatley - LeClair Cremation Centre, Midland. Gordon visited the Seychelles in the summer of 1881 and decided the islands were the location of the Garden of Eden. [4], In 1843, Gordon was devastated when his favourite sibling, his sister Emily, died of tuberculosis, writing years later, "humanly speaking it changed my life, it was never the same since". [10] The sappers were an elite corps who performed reconnaissance work, led storming parties, demolished obstacles in assaults, and undertook rear-guard actions in retreats and other hazardous tasks. [16] He was put to work in the Siege of Sevastopol and took part in the assault of the Redan from 18 June to 8 September. View obituary. Dearest Dad and Grandpa, Would not the right honorable Gentleman consider whether this statue [] might not receive special consideration []? Relations between Egypt and Abyssinia (later renamed Ethiopia) had become strained due to a dispute over the district of Bogos, and war broke out in 1875. His moods were capricious and uncertain, his passions violent, his impulses sudden and inconsistent. Mr. Pinsent, who was long famous in Canada, but who did not gain wider international recognition until one of his final performances, in the 2006 film "Away From Her," died on Feb. 25 in . [238], The Corps of Royal Engineers, Gordon's own Corps, commissioned a statue of Gordon on a camel. [12], Gordon was apparently killed at the Governor-General's palace about an hour before dawn. An official certificate recognizing your purchase will be included with your email receipt. In September 1883, an Egyptian Army force under Colonel William Hicks set out to destroy the Mahdi. The Reverend Gordon Graham has taken the biblical injunction to "consider the lilies of the field" to extremes. [27] Gordon continued surveying, marking off the boundary into Asia Minor. To send flowers If we can not answer leave a message and we will get back to you as Finally, the boats sent were not there to relieve Gordon, who was not expected to agree to abandon the city, and the small force and limited supplies on board could have offered scant military support for the besieged in any case. [97] Baker's annual salary as governor of Equatoria had been 10,000 (Egyptian pounds, about US$1 million in today's money) and Ismail was astonished when Gordon refused that salary, saying that 2,000 per year was more than enough for him. Gordon was nostalgic for China, and knowing of the Sino-Russian crisis, he saw a chance to do something significant. The Khedive Isma'il was deposed in 1879 in favour of his son, Tewfik, by the Ottoman Sultan Abdul-Hamid II following heavy diplomatic pressure from the British, French, and Italian governments after Isma'il had quarreled with Baring. [253], Strachey, a member of the Bloomsbury Group of intellectuals, depicted Gordon as a ludicrous figure, a bad-tempered, deranged egomaniac with a nasty habit of knocking out Arabs whenever he was unhappy, and who led himself into disaster. [222], Egypt had been in the French sphere of influence until 1882 when the British had established control over Egypt. [188] The Turkish troops at Khartoum were not part of the Ottoman Army, but rather bashi-bazouks, irregulars whom Gordon commented were good for raids, but useless for battle. Please know Nancy that you and the family are in our thoughts and prayers that God would walk with you through this difficult time. [35] The British arrived at a crucial time. [99] Joining Gordon on the journey to Equatoria was his old friend Romolo Gessi and a former US Army officer, Charles Chaill-Long, who did not get along well with Gordon. Fri,03/03/23-11:56AM, 38 Reads. Queen Victoria sent him a telegram of rebuke which found its way into the press. [93], Reflecting these realities, Gordon had to undertake much of the administrative work himself, travelling ceaselessly and constantly all over the Sudan via camel in attempts to make the bureaucracy actually obey his orders, something that occurred when he was present, but stopped as soon as he left. [219] During a meeting in 1898 in Cairo where Churchill interviewed Baring to gather material for his 1899 book The River War,[250] Baring challenged Churchill about his belief that Gordon was a hero. [257] Nutting noted that Gordon had often recklessly exposed himself to Russian fire while fighting in the Crimea and stated he hoped to die in battle against the Russians before leaving for the Crimea. Gordon accepted the offer, but shortly after arriving in India, he resigned. I fear that there will be treachery in the garrison, and all will be over by Christmas. In the 1980s this quiet civil servant . He was warm, steadfast, and peaceable. [47] Gordon felt very uncomfortable commanding this force and at one point had to order the summary execution of one of his officers when the latter tried to take the Ever-Victorious Army over to the Taipings, who had offered a generous bribe for switching sides. As such, Gordon's role in suppressing the rebellion has caused his reputation to suffer in China, in addition to his role as a general in service of the Manchu-dominated Qing government, which systematically oppressed the Han Chinese majority. [40], During his time in China, Gordon was well-known and respected by friend and foe alike for leading from the front and going into combat armed only with his rattan cane (Gordon always refused to carry a gun or a sword), a choice of weapon that almost cost him his life several times. The best evidence suggests that Gordon went out to confront the enemy, gunned down several of the Ansar with his revolver and, after running out of bullets, drew his sword only to be shot down. He was deeply loved by all who knew him and he will be dearly missed every day, with joyful anticipation of an eventual heavenly reunion. [109], Gordon grew close to the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, an evangelical Christian group based in London dedicated to ending slavery all over the world, and who regularly celebrated Gordon's efforts to end slavery in the Sudan. [245] The British historian Alex von Tunzelmann criticised the film for portraying Gordon and the Mahdi regularly meeting and as frres ennemis, though she added that it is true that Gordon and the Mahdi did exchange letters. Yes, these are people struggling to be free and rightly struggling to be free". Northview Funeral Chapel takes safety seriously. During his time in Sudan, Gordon was much involved in attempting to suppress the slave trade while struggling against a corrupt and inefficient Egyptian bureaucracy that had no interest in suppressing the trade. As a sapper, Gordon was in a front line trench where he was under intense fire, men fell all around him and he was forced to take cover so often that he was covered literally from head to toe with mud and blood. George was a wise, strong, hardworking, and unfailingly kind man. [214] Rudolf Slatin, the Austrian governor of Darfur who had been taken prisoner by the Ansar, wrote that three soldiers showed him Gordon's head at his tent before delivering it to the Mahdi. [184] In his diary, Gordon wrote: "I own to having been very insubordinate to Her Majesty's Government and its officials, but it is my nature, and I cannot help it. [83] Popular legend has it that Gordon and Gessi broke into the pasha's palace at night to rescue the girl, but the truth is less dramatic. [232], Gordon's memory, as well as his work in supervising the town's riverside fortifications, is commemorated in Gravesend; the embankment of the Riverside Leisure Area is known as the Gordon Promenade, while Khartoum Place lies just to the south. Nutting's book was noteworthy as the first book to argue that Gordon had a death wish. Even more importantly, Gordon had given his word of honour that all of the Taipings who surrendered would be well-treated, and regarded the massacre as a stain on his honour. He was warm, steadfast, and peaceable. [145] Gordon wrote: "The peasantry of the Northwest and Southwest of Ireland are much worse off than any of the inhabitants of Bulgaria, Asia Minor, China, India, or the Sudan".
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