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{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Bertrand Evelyn Mellish Gurdon
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Lieutenant_B.E.M._Gurdon.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1867|9|2|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1949|10|6|1867|9|2|df=y}}
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial =
| birth_place =[[Shimla|Simla]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[Indian subcontinent|India]]
| death_place = [[Crowborough]], [[Sussex]], [[England]]
| placeofburial_coordinates =
| nickname =
| allegiance ={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]
| branch = {{army|British India|23px}}
| serviceyears =1886–1918
| rank =[[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-Colonel]]
| unit =
| commands =
| battles =[[Chitral Expedition]]
| awards =
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
[[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-Colonel]] '''Bertrand Evelyn Mellish Gurdon''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CIE|DSO}} (2 September 1867 - 6 October 1949) was a [[British Empire|British]] soldier<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xkc6AQAAIAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon|title=The Alpine Journal|date=1949|pages=409|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cWkwAQAAMAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon|title=Who was who: A Companion to Who's Who, Containing the Biographies of Those who Died|date=2002|publisher=A. & C. Black|isbn=9780713661255|pages=346|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nPYdAAAAMAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon|title=Much sounding of bugles: the siege of Chitral, 1895|last=Harris|first=John|date=1975|publisher=Hutchinson|pages=25|language=en}}</ref> and administrator.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xg5BAQAAMAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon|title=The Genealogical Magazine|date=1901|pages=126|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=amJEAQAAIAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon|title=The Army List|last=Defence|first=Great Britain Ministry of|date=1900|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|pages=1278|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MkxLAAAAMAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+political|title=Who's who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary|date=1908|publisher=A. & C. Black|pages=774|language=en}}</ref> He gained prominence as an officer during the [[Chitral Expedition|Siege of Chitral]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gFM7AQAAMAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+siege&pg=PA4021|title=The London Gazette|date=1895|publisher=Tho. Newcomb over against Baynards Castle in Thamse-street|pages=4021|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1XU5AAAAIAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+siege|title=The Himalayan Journal|date=1946|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=144|language=en}}</ref>

== Life and career ==
Gurdon was born on 2 September 1867 at [[Shimla|Simla]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|India]],<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PP0-AQAAMAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+1867|title=Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed & Official Classes|date=1921|publisher=Kelly's Directories.|pages=764|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_W_sqAAAAMAAJ|quote=Bertrand Evelyn Mellish Gurdon 1867.|title=Visitation of England and Wales|last=Howard|first=Joseph Jackson|date=1902|publisher=Priv. print.|pages=96|language=en}}</ref> the third son of Major-General Evelyn Pulteney Gurdon.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mDAaAQAAMAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+1867|title=Who's who|date=1919|publisher=A. & C. Black|pages=1048|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RYQjAQAAIAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+1867|title=Haileybury Register|last=College|first=Haileybury and Imperial Service|date=1900|pages=215|language=en}}</ref> He was the uncle of the university administrator [[Bertrand Hallward]].

He received education and training from [[Haileybury and Imperial Service College|Haileybury Imperial Service College]] and the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_W_sqAAAAMAAJ|quote=Bertrand Evelyn Mellish Gurdon Haileybury.|title=Visitation of England and Wales|last=Howard|first=Joseph Jackson|date=1902|publisher=Priv. print.|pages=96|language=en}}</ref> He was [[King's Commissioned Indian Officer|commissioned]] into the [[British Indian Army]] on 25 August 1886.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/indialistandind00offigoog/indialistandind00offigoog_djvu.txt|title=The India list and India Office list|website=Archives|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HGJPAAAAMAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+1886|title=The India List and India Office List for ...|last=Office|first=Great Britain India|date=1902|publisher=Harrison and Sons|pages=157|language=en}}</ref> His first posting was in the Foreign and Political Department of the [[British Indian Army]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oXlmAAAAMAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+political|title=The Lady's Who's who|date=1938|publisher=Pallas Publishing Company|pages=181|language=en}}</ref> In 1892 he was posted as Assistant to the [[Gilgit Agency|British Agent at Gilgit]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/Biographical/library/The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-II/files/assets/basic-html/page57.html|title=Page 57 - The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-II|website=Military Archives United Kingdom}}</ref> As [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|Lieutenant]], in 1892, he was posted as Acting Assistant [[Political officer (British Empire)|Political Agent]] in [[Chitral (princely state)|Chitral]] in the turbulent period following the death of Mehtar [[Aman ul-Mulk]]. He was serving in that capacity when the [[Chitral Expedition|Siege of Chitral]] unfolded in 1895.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_W_sqAAAAMAAJ|quote=Bertrand Evelyn Mellish Gurdon assistant.|title=Visitation of England and Wales|last=Howard|first=Joseph Jackson|date=1902|publisher=Priv. print.|pages=96|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/Biographical/library/The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-II/files/assets/basic-html/page57.html|title=Page 57 - The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-II|website=Military Archives United Kingdom}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mBREAQAAMAAJ&q=B+E+M+Gurdon|title=Parliamentary Papers: 1850-1908|last=Commons|first=Great Britain Parliament House of|date=1898|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|pages=52|language=en}}</ref>

He played an active role during the conflict,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1950_files/AJ57%201950%20400-416%20In%20Memoriam.pdf|title=In Memoriam|date=1950|website=Alpine Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ifZLI9i1PpcC&q=B+E+M+Gurdon|title=Historic Battlefields of Pakistan|last=Torrens-Spence|first=Johnny|date=2006|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780195978971|pages=105|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishbattles.com/north-west-frontier-india/seige-relief-chitral.htm|title=The Siege and Relief of Chitral 1895|website=British Battles}}</ref> and was subsequently decorated as [[Distinguished Service Order|Companion of the Distinguished Service Order]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26902/page/5801/data.pdf|title=Indian Staff Corps|work=The London Gazette}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+dso&pg=PA148|title=The India List and India Office List for ...|last=Office|first=Great Britain India|date=1819|publisher=Harrison and Sons|pages=148|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=27dLAAAAYAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+dso|title=Whitaker's Naval and Military Directory and Indian Army List|date=1899|publisher=J. Whitaker & Sons|pages=185|language=en}}</ref> Following the lifting of the siege Gurdon was stationed in [[Chitral (princely state)|Chitral]] as Assistant [[Political officer (British Empire)|Political Officer]] of the state until late 1902.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/in-memoriam-29/|title=In Memoriam|work=The Himalayan Club Archive|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131109121332/http://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/in-memoriam-29/|archive-date=2013-11-09|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> In 1900 he was made a [[Order of the Indian Empire|Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/11200/page/520/data.pdf|title=Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire|date=1900|work=The Edinburgh Gazette}}</ref> In 1903 he was appointed [[Political officer (British Empire)|Political Agent]] of the [[Gilgit Agency]] and served there until 1906.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Pakistan_princes.html|title=Pakistan Princely States|last=Cahoon|first=Ben|website=World Statesmen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AXIMAQAAMAAJ&q=B+E+M+Gurdon|title="We are here to stay": Pashtun migrants in the northern areas of Pakistan|last=Weinreich|first=Matthias|date=2009|publisher=Klaus Schwarz|isbn=9783879973569|pages=39|language=en}}</ref> In 1908 he was entrusted with the post of Political Agent [[Khyber Agency]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xkc6AQAAIAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+khyber|title=The Alpine Journal|date=1949|pages=407|language=en}}</ref> His next posting was as Political Agent [[Rajputana Agency]]. 1912 saw Gurdon being promoted as [[Lieutenant colonel|Ltieutenant Colonel]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1XU5AAAAIAAJ&q=Bertrand+Evelyn+Mellish+Gurdon+rajputana|title=The Himalayan Journal|date=1946|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=144|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/Biographical/library/The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-II/files/assets/basic-html/page57.html|title=Page 57 - The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-II|website=Military Archive United Kingdom}}</ref> He later served as Political Agent of the [[Phulkian sardars|Phulkian States Agency]] from 1913 to 1916.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Pakistan_princes.html|title=Pakistan Princely States|last=Cahoon|first=Ben|website=World Statesmen}}</ref> He was scheduled for another promotion but owing to ill health sought leave and then premature retirement in 1918.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.angloboerwar.com/index.php?option=com_grid&gid=24_pq_0&p=8|title=Anglo Boer War: Lieutenant Gurdon|website=Anglo Boer War|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-06-01}}</ref>

== Death ==
Gurdon died a natural death at the age of 82 in [[Crowborough]], [[Sussex]] on 6 October 1949.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribalpages.com/tribe/familytree?uid=pippin&surname=Gurdon|title=Surname: Gurdon|website=Tribal Pages}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1950.html|title=Alpine Journal - Contents 1950|website=Alpine Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1950_files/AJ57%201950%20400-416%20In%20Memoriam.pdf|title=In Memoriam|publisher=Alpine Journal}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurdon, Bertrand Evelyn Mellish}}
[[Category:1867 births]]
[[Category:1949 deaths]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Chitral Expedition]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:British Indian Army personnel]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire]]

Bertrand Evelyn Mellish Gurdon - Revision history

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