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Thursday 28 January 2021

One hundred and thirty six years ago today ...

... Major General Charles (‘Chinese’) Gordon died in Khartoum.

He was the son of Major General Henry William Gordon, and was born in Woolwich on 28th January 1833.

General Gordon's birthplace. It has since been demolished and replaced by a block of local authority flats.

He was educated at Fullards School and Taunton School (both in Taunton), before he returned to Woolwich to attend the Royal Military Academy, where he trained to become a officer in the Royal Engineers.

The old Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, as seen from my house. The Academy has now been converted into a housing complex.
The front of the old Royal Military Academy.

His subsequent career is well known, particularly the role he played leading the 'Ever Victorious Army' in China and Egyptian forces in the Sudan.

Besides this, my interest in Gordon stems from the fact that he was born about half a mile from where I live on Shooters Hill, London, overlooking the old Royal Military Academy.

12 comments:

  1. Heston's Gordon was my first introduction to the historical personage.

    Since then, I've had a soft spot for him, his legacy, and his exemplary, in many ways, conduct as to what an officer in Victorian England was supposed to be.

    That he was poorly served or served only with words, for a considerable and far too fatal a time is truly grievous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Justin Penwith,

      I only wish that someone would a film about Gordon’s time in China. KHARTOUM was a good film, but one about the EVA would be even more gripping!

      All the best,

      Bob

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    2. The unfortunate truth is this unlikely to happen, with most film production bowing to China's demands. If anything, we'll get some movie about Frederick Townsend Ward's courageous and tragic story, including a love interest, with Gorden showing up at the end to take command of Ward's creation.

      Delete
    3. Justin Penwith,

      I suspect that you are right. In the modern world, money talks ...

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. If there ever was a man that needs a new reevaluated modern biography it's Gordon - a fascinating chap !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Good Soldier Svjek,

      I totally agree! I’ve read several biographies that purport to tell Gordon’s life story, but I’ve been put off several that seemed intent on ‘proving’ that he was a closet homosexual. There is no evidence that he was, but this doesn’t stop the amateur psychologists/historians from including their suppositions in their books.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. Very interesting post Bob. So sad that the house is long gone, demolished to make way for those horrid flats (ex Army) on Woolwich common (looking towards the QE Hospital, top of Nightingale Vale). A similar photo was posted some time back on FB 'Loving London of Old' and I was able to pinpoint the spot where the house stood.

    Hope you are recovering well :)
    Lee.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ‘Lee (Lee),

      Cheers! I suspect that had the building not been demolished to make way for the flats (which I think are an eyesore!), it would have been renovated and would now be worth an absolute fortune.

      I’m getting better slowly ... but at least I’m getting better!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. Hi Bob,
    Charlton Heston's portrayal of General Gordon is excellent- despite parts of the movie not being factual- a most enjoyable and influencing movie- I first saw Khartoum on the big picture theater screen in Sydney and it was fantastic and has left a lasting impression. Have a great weekend there. Regards. KEV.

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    Replies
    1. Kev Robertson (Kev),

      Charlton Heston looked reasonably like Gordon, which helped make the film so good. It stuck closer to the truth than a lot of so-called ‘historical’ films, and the scenery was impressive.

      I also first saw it at the cinema, and it looked marvellous on the big screen.

      Keep safe and keep well,

      Bob

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  5. A snippet of information. The historian Dan Snow’s great-grandfather used to keep a piece of the stone steps on which Gordon died on his mantlepiece in his London home. After the house was bombed by the Luftwaffe, it was never identified.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Whiskers,

      What an interesting story! Thanks for sharing it.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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