Memorial details

Memorial type
Sculptured / Cast figure
District
City Of Westminster
Town
Westminster
County
Greater London
Country
England
Commemoration
Egypt and the Sudan (1882-1899)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 16th October 1888
    Attended by: UNKNOWN
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
11541

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Current location

Victoria Embankment Gardens
Victoria Embankment
Westminster
City Of Westminster
Greater London
WC2N 5DG
England

OS Grid Ref: TQ 30343 80197
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Previous locations
  • Trafalgar Square
    Charing Cross
    City Of Westminster
    Greater London
    England

    OS Grid Ref: Undefined
    Denomination: Undefined
Description
GORDON REPRESENTED AS A STAFF OFFICER WEARING A PATROL JACKET. HIS HEAD IS SLIGHTLY INCLINED FORWARD, RESTING HIS CHIN ON HIS RIGHT HAND. HE CARRIES A CANE AND BIBLE AND RESTS HIS RIGHT FOOT ON A CANNON. BRONZE PANELS ON THE PLINTH REPRESENT FORTITUDE, FAITH, CHARITY AND JUSTICE
Inscription
CHARLES G. GORDON, C. B., MAJOR-GENERAL, ROYAL ENGINEERS, KILLED AT KHARTOUM XXVI JANUARY, MDCCCLXXXV. FURTHER INSCRIPTIONS LIST ACTIONS IN WHICH GORDON WAS ENGAGED: (SOUTH) CRIMEA 1855 N CHINA 1864 (WEST) QUINSAN SOOCHOW (NORTH) SOUDAN KHARTOUM (EAST) GRAVESEND EQUATOR (WEST) RIGHT/ FEARS NO/ MIGHT
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • Egypt and the Sudan (1882-1899)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname,rank,year died,regiment,place of death,forename,decorations
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Pedestal
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - Limestone (ingleton)
  • Steps
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite
  • Figure
    Measurements: height 3100MM
    Materials: Bronze
Listing information
Condition
Costs

Site: £20,000
Comments: Voted by the House of Commons in 1885.

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Other
Details: " The Govenment voted Gordon's family £20,000 for his statue" Richard Graham 14/03/01
Responsibility
1999: English Heritage.
Reference
  • The Times 16 Oct. 1888 p.10 '[The statue] will be uncovered this morning at 11.30, but, as in the cases of the neighbouring monuments to Sir Charles Napier and Sir Henry Havelock, there will not be any formal ceremony of unveiling.'
  • Evening Standard 16 Oct. 2013 Photo c1910-20 from the collection of the London & Middlesex Archaeological Society showing Trafalgar Square and the statue of Gen Gordon.
  • LONDON'S IMMORTALS:THE COMPLETE OUTDOOR COMMEMORATIVE STATUES by BLACKWOOD, JOHN pp.268-9 Source: Image Library Published:SAVOY PRESS LTD 1989 LONDON & OXFORD
  • Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Sir (William) Hamo Thornycroft (1850-1925) Published:Oxford University Press 2004 'He followed the advice of Gordon's brother, Sir Henry Gordon, to make the statue "as little 'military' as possible" and instead stressed " strength of mind, love, kindness,affection"...Gordon's medidtative gaze makes him the "Mower" 's kindred spirit...'
  • LONDON STATUES: A GUIDE TO LONDONS OUTDOOR STATUES AND SCULPTURE by BYRON, A p.133 Source: Image Library NIWM Published:CONSTABLE 1981 LONDON
  • LONDON'S OPEN AIR STATUARY by GLEICHEN pp. 10-11 Source: Image Library Published:LONGMAN'S, GREEN & CO 1928 LONDON
  • Copy image of Gen. Gordon's statue in Trafalgar Square pre WW2 in snowball scene.
  • Illustrated London News 20 Oct. 1888 p.447 Statue was uncovered on 16 October without formal ceremony.

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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