Statue

General Gordon statue

Erection date: 16/10/1888

Inscription

{On the front of the plinth:}
Charles G. Gordon CB , Major-Gen. Royal Engineers
Killed at Khartoum, XXV1 January MDCCCLXXXV {26 Jan.1885}

{The be-foliaged cornice of the plinth carries references to Gordon’s campaigns:}
Crimea 1855
China 1864
Gravesend
Equator
Soudan
Khartoum
Quinsan
Soochow

{The left and right sides of the plinth each carry a large bronze relief. The plinth frieze carries the titles, on the left:}
Fortitude, Faith
{Fortitude’s shield reads “Right fears no might”.}

{on the right:}
Charity, Justice

{Each panel is inscribed:}
Hamo Thornycroft 1888
{The attachment for the panel on the left has obliterated the last 2 digits.}

{Below the panel on the right, carved in the stone:}
Hamo Thornycroft, RA, Sc. 1888

{On the base of the statue:}
Hamo Thornycroft, ARA, Sc. 1887

Prompted by us publishing this statue Margaret Wright sent lots of information including:

1888 this statue was originally erected in Trafalgar Square between the two fountains. Getty have a c.1935 photo of it there. It was removed in 1943 and in 1953 re-erected in its current location but lacking part of its pedestal. An exact copy, with the full pedestal, was erected in Melbourne, Australia in 1889. Gordon had no particular connection with Australia.

2023: Michiel Hegener pointed out that there is a book about this sculpture: Hamo Thornycroft & the Martyr General (1991) bij Adam White, published by the Henry Moore Centre for the Study of Sculpture, Leeds City Art Galleries.

Site: General Gordon statue (1 memorial)

SW1, Victoria Embankment, Victoria Embankment Gardens - Whitehall section

2024: Gordon's School's annual Memorial Weekend, in January, includes their marching band processing along Whitehall to this statue. The band has around 30 bagpipers, 10 snare drummers, 6 tenor drummers and two bass drummers - here's the video.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
General Gordon statue

Subjects commemorated i

Major General Charles George Gordon

Army officer. Made his military reputation in China. Achieved lasting fame th...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
General Gordon statue

Created by i

Sir Hamo Thornycroft

Sculptor. Born William Hamo Thornycroft (but the William is normally dropped)...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Jacob the dray horse

Jacob the dray horse

SE1, Queen Elizabeth Street, The Circle

We are not convinced by the derivation of Horselydown. Horses don't lie down to rest, do they? We imagine this horse is named Jacob after...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Colonial Office - S02 - Russell

Colonial Office - S02 - Russell

SW1, Whitehall, Foreign Office

Statues Hither and Thither has been invaluable in identifying some of the busts and most of the statues. The statues are not labelled and...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
St Anne's - Rev. Brown

St Anne's - Rev. Brown

SE11, Kennington Lane

This statue and plaque are in the porch of the main entrance.

1 subject commemorated
Apollo Inn

Apollo Inn

WC1, St George's Gardens

An information board near an entrance to the gardens informs: "Euterpe the Muse of Instrumental Music. Terracotta figure, one of the nin...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Sir George White

Sir George White

W1, Portland Place

{On both sides of the plinth:} Field-Marshal Sir George Stuart White, V.C., G.C.B., O.M., G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O. Born 1...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator