| Sir George Frederick Gorringe | |
|---|---|
Lieutenant General Sir George Gorringe |
|
| Nickname | Bloody Orange |
| Born | 10 February 1868 Kingston by Sea, England |
| Died | 24 October 1945 (aged 77) Kingston-by-Sea |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1888 – 1924 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Commands held | 10th Division |
| Battles/wars | Mahdist War Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order |
| Other work | Farming |
Lieutenant General Sir George Frederick Gorringe KCB, KCMG, DSO (10 February 1868 – 24 October 1945) served as an active field commander in the British Army during the Anglo-Boer War, World War I, on the Palestine and Western Fronts.[1]
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George Frederick Gorringe was the second son of Hugh and Louisa Gorringe of Kingston-by-Sea, and was born on 10 February 1868.[2]
He was educated at Lee's School Brighton, and Wellington College.[2] In 1886 he passed into the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and obtained his commission in the Royal Engineers on 17 February 1888.[3]
He initially served at Chatham and Aldershot. He was attached to the Egyptian Army in 1892-1899 and 1902-1904. He served with the Dongola Expedition of 1896 and with the Nile Expeditions of 1897-1899. then in the South African War of 1899-1901 and in the Sudan in 1902-1904.[2]
Knighted in 1915, his distinguished service during the First World War included command of the 3rd Indian Army Corps during operations up the Tigris in March to July 1916, and of the 47th Division British Expeditionary Force in France in September 1916 to March 1919.[2]
In his despatch, to the Chief of the General Staff at British Indian Army Headquarters in Simla, on the operations in Mesopotamia from 19 January to 30 April 1916, Lt-Genl Sir Percy Lake, KCB reported the following:
"Major-General (temporary Lieut.-General) Sir G. F. Gorringe has rendered valuable service to the State. As Chief of the Staff to the Tigris Column from January 28th, and in command of the Column from March 12th onwards, he has shown untiring energy, ability and devotion in dealing with the many difficult situations which he had to face. He is a Commander of proved ability in the field."[4]
After the War, he commanded the 10th Division in Egypt from 1919 to 1921, rising to Lieutenant-General in 1921. He retired in 1924.[2]
Gorringe acted as Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers from 1927 to 1938.[2]
On 2 March 1901, Gorringe, as a Lieutenant-Colonel, formed a military court on the farm Riet Valley, near Middelburg, Cape Colony to try, in absentia, Hendrik Jacobus van Heerden. The President of the court was Captain CE Wilson of the East Lancashire Regiment. Van Heerden was executed by firing squad shortly after the court had reached its decision.[5]
Following the execution, Gorringe made the following statement:
"After the above Court had been held and the column I command were on the march towards Pearston I received by rider Lt Kirby's report. He was so badly wounded he could not attend. This report strictly confirmed Van Heerden's guilt and treachery and I caused it necessary to make a summary example on the spot. I could not wait for confirmation from higher authority as it was imperative that the enemy, then on the march to Pearston should be followed up without delay. I therefore confirmed the sentence which I ordered to be carried out without delay. I detached a squadron for that purpose." [5]
His nickname, Bloody Orange is rhyming slang. It was said to be appropriate for the commander of a division of London Territorials and also fitted his rude and unpleasant personality.[6]
He lived and farmed at Kingston-by-Sea until his death on 24 October 1945.[2] He was buried in the family plot in the north-west corner of St Julian’s churchyard.[7] St Julian's is now part of Shoreham-by-Sea.[8]
| External images | |
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| Photograph of Lt Genl Sir George Gorringe | |
| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by John Longley |
General Officer Commanding the 10th (Irish) Division 1919–1921 |
Succeeded by Post Disbanded |