Page 29 - GFA – A Different Drumbeat
P. 29
GFA – A Different Drumbeat 29
THE GREAT WAR
George and Fanny's second child, Aileen Margaret, was born on 15 March 1914. Five
months later World War I broke out. GFA’s brother John resigned from the CIM to join up.
Alfred, who was just seventeen, joined up in England and, sadly, was killed in action on 4
June 1916. To see Alfred’s Service Record and burial place in France refer to Book 2.
In October 1914 a telegram was received from the Christian Churches of Peking with the
backing of the President and Vice President of the Republic, asking that a meeting be
arranged in Lanchow to pray for peace.
Mr. George Andrew, GFA’s father, visited the Governor of Kansu to discuss the matter and
a meeting was arranged for Sunday 18 October. A report of the occasion stated:
“The reverence shown by officials of all ranks was most striking, showing that during
the last few years the prejudice against Christianity has lessened. The meeting
took place between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday 18 October. Mr. Kou, one of our
Christians, acted as chairman. Prayer was offered by George Andrew Senior and
the Scripture reading was by Mr. Shen, another Christian. An address was given by
Mr. Chung, a Christian business man and then Mr. Kuai, the Governor's
representative, was called on to speak. He gave a very appropriate address for the
occasion, after which Dr. George King MB closed with prayer."
GFA did not join up as he was suffering what turned out to be a long term illness. In 1911,
as mentioned earlier, he had been to Peking to see medical specialists, and late in 1914,
Arthur Moore wrote to Mr Hoste, the General Director of the China Inland Mission:
"my brother-in-law has been ailing for some time and, though the doctor has been
attending him, he is not much better and has now been ordered a change from
Lanchow for not less than two months".
GFA obeyed orders and left Lanchow in January 1915, but in June Arthur Moore penned
another letter to Mr Hoste:
"As you were aware, my brother-in-law has been ill more or less for the past year.
He has taken several journeys and has benefited from the change, but the old
trouble is beginning to return and it is more than likely that the doctor will suggest a
change if these boils continue."
This also gives a clue as to what the trouble was.
Dr. Robert Parry MRCS LRCP arrived in 1915 to work in the Bordern Memorial Hospital.
This began a lifelong friendship with GFA. Parry was impressed by the man:
"When I arrived, George was already established in the missionary community, at
least as the adviser on the quality of any horse. As most male missionaries owned a
THE GREAT WAR
George and Fanny's second child, Aileen Margaret, was born on 15 March 1914. Five
months later World War I broke out. GFA’s brother John resigned from the CIM to join up.
Alfred, who was just seventeen, joined up in England and, sadly, was killed in action on 4
June 1916. To see Alfred’s Service Record and burial place in France refer to Book 2.
In October 1914 a telegram was received from the Christian Churches of Peking with the
backing of the President and Vice President of the Republic, asking that a meeting be
arranged in Lanchow to pray for peace.
Mr. George Andrew, GFA’s father, visited the Governor of Kansu to discuss the matter and
a meeting was arranged for Sunday 18 October. A report of the occasion stated:
“The reverence shown by officials of all ranks was most striking, showing that during
the last few years the prejudice against Christianity has lessened. The meeting
took place between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday 18 October. Mr. Kou, one of our
Christians, acted as chairman. Prayer was offered by George Andrew Senior and
the Scripture reading was by Mr. Shen, another Christian. An address was given by
Mr. Chung, a Christian business man and then Mr. Kuai, the Governor's
representative, was called on to speak. He gave a very appropriate address for the
occasion, after which Dr. George King MB closed with prayer."
GFA did not join up as he was suffering what turned out to be a long term illness. In 1911,
as mentioned earlier, he had been to Peking to see medical specialists, and late in 1914,
Arthur Moore wrote to Mr Hoste, the General Director of the China Inland Mission:
"my brother-in-law has been ailing for some time and, though the doctor has been
attending him, he is not much better and has now been ordered a change from
Lanchow for not less than two months".
GFA obeyed orders and left Lanchow in January 1915, but in June Arthur Moore penned
another letter to Mr Hoste:
"As you were aware, my brother-in-law has been ill more or less for the past year.
He has taken several journeys and has benefited from the change, but the old
trouble is beginning to return and it is more than likely that the doctor will suggest a
change if these boils continue."
This also gives a clue as to what the trouble was.
Dr. Robert Parry MRCS LRCP arrived in 1915 to work in the Bordern Memorial Hospital.
This began a lifelong friendship with GFA. Parry was impressed by the man:
"When I arrived, George was already established in the missionary community, at
least as the adviser on the quality of any horse. As most male missionaries owned a
