G . F . Gorringe 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 . Early life . George Frederick Gorringe was the second son of Hugh and Louisa Gorringe of Kingston - by - Sea , and was born on 10 February 1868 . He was educated at Lee ' s School Brighton , and Wellington College . In 1886 he passed into the Royal Military Academy , Woolwich , and obtained his commission in the Royal Engineers on 17 February 1888 . Military career . Gorringe initially served at Chatham and Aldershot . He was attached to the Egyptian Army in 1892 - 1899 and served with the Dongola Expedition of 1896 and with the Nile Expeditions of 1897 - 1899 . He then served in the South African War of 1899 - 1901 , and was in November 1900 appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George ( CMG ) for his services . Gorringe again served in the Egyptian Army in the Sudan 1902 - 1904 . 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 . 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 28 January , and in command of the Column from 12 March 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 . " " After the War , he commanded the 10th Division in Egypt from 1919 to 1921 , rising to Lieutenant - General in 1921 . He retired in 1924 . Gorringe acted as Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers from 1927 to 1938 . Execution of HJ van Heerden , Cape Rebel . 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 . 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 . " " Nickname . 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 . Later life . He lived and farmed at Kingston - by - Sea until his death on 24 October 1945 . He was buried in the family plot in the north - west corner of St Julian ’ s churchyard . St Julian ' s is now part of Shoreham - by - Sea . See also . Siege of Kut