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

Margaret MacDonald

Margaret MacDonald

WC2, Lincoln's Inn Fields

Bronze statue unveiled on 19 December 1914. Sculpted by Goulden to Ramsay's design.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Burlington House courtyard  - Joshua Reynolds

Burlington House courtyard - Joshua Reynolds

W1, Piccadilly, Royal Academy

This building is commonly known as the Royal Academy (of Arts). The wings of the building are occupied by a number of learned societies, ...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Royal Military Asylum

Royal Military Asylum

SW3, King's Road, Duke of York Square

The sculpture is Bowtell’s 'My Children' (or 'Two Pupils'). The plinth is by Kindersley. The boy, wearing the school’s traditional unifo...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
V&A façade - Turner

V&A façade - Turner

SW7, Cromwell Road

Excluding the allegories (such as Knowledge) there are 36 statues on the two public façades of the V&A Museum, on Exhibition Road and...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
V&A façade - Payne

V&A façade - Payne

SW7, Cromwell Road

Excluding the allegories (such as Knowledge) there are 36 statues on the two public façades of the V&A Museum, on Exhibition Road and...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

James Clarke Lawrence

James Clarke Lawrence

MP for Lambeth from 1865, and Lord Mayor 1868-9. In 1887 he and his brother Edwin funded a new building in Kensington for the Unitarians, see Essex Street Chapel. His nephew was Frederick Pethick-L...

Person, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Cecil Beaton - NW3

Cecil Beaton - NW3

NW3, Langland Gardens, 21

Sir Cecil Beaton, 1904 - 1980, photographer and designer, was born and lived here until 1911. Heath and Old Hampstead Society

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Guildhall - restored

Guildhall - restored

EC2, Guildhall Yard

Our picture shows the north-east corner of the Yard. The cyclist is in front of the two benches. The plaque is carved on the panel on the...

2 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
Gresley Society Trust

Gresley Society Trust

From the Trust's website: "Our purpose is to study and celebrate the life and works of Sir Nigel Gresley in particular, and the works and achievements of the London & North Eastern Railway in g...

Group, Community / Clubs, Engineering, History, Transport

1 memorial
Islington Tunnel - west

Islington Tunnel - west

N1, Grand Union Canal near Muriel Street

This modern plaque is at the bottom of the sloping path on the left. 2019: The plaque at the other, east, end of this tunnel has been re...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators