Robert Gordon-Canning
Encyclopedia
Robert Cecil Gordon-Canning (24 June 1888-4 January 1967) was a notable British fascist, antisemite and supporter of Arab nationalist causes. He was briefly married to Australian born film star Mary Maguire
.
, he went on to serve in the Royal Hussars in the First World War, attaining the rank of Captain and being awarded the Military Cross
. After the war, Gordon-Canning became a supporter of Arab nationalist causes.
He was involved in advocating for Moroccan independence during the Rif War
and visited Morocco
at least twice in the mid 1920s, the first time for the Red Cross and later to present independence views to the French government. He wrote several books of poetry at this time, including "Flashlights from Afar" (1920), “A Pagan Shrine”(1922) and “The Death of Akbar” (1923). Australian diplomat R.G.Casey
reported meeting Gordon-Canning in January 1926. He described him as "having come into the limelight lately owing to his having been the vehicle and mouthpiece for Abd el-Krim's 'peace' terms to the French. He has a shifty eye and is, I think, not altogether a
disinterested peacemaker." Casey went on to describe "a very heated exchange of words about Morocco between [Gordon-]Canning and Sir Malcolm Robertson." Casey felt Gordon-Canning's approach combined "journalism with gentlemanly adventure."
In 1929 Gordon-Canning visited Palestine
and met with leaders of the Palestinian National Movement. He was a critic of British policy in Palestine.
. In October 1936 he was best man at the wedding of Oswald Mosley
and Diana Mitford
in Germany, becoming the movement’s expert on foreign affairs and "Director of Overseas Policy." He wrote regularly for fascist publications and developed the BUF slogan “Mind Britain’s Business”, which was also the title of one of his pamphlets. After a personal disagreement with Mosley, he left from the BUF in 1939, joining other fascist groups, including the British People’s Party and The Link
.
in June 1939. Despite the 30 year age difference, they married in August 1939. Ironically, Gordon-Canning had previously written disparagingly of the influence and tone of Hollywood films. In July 1940, Gordon-Canning was interned under Defence Regulation 18B
and was not released until 1943. In 1945, newspapers reported the marriage as over and announced Maguire had remarried, moving back to the US in an effort to restart her career. A child, Michael Gordon-Canning, was born of the union in February 1941, but died in infancy.
’s 1951 book on middle-east politics, Cairo to Damascus, Gordon-Canning’s ongoing anti-semitism was exposed. Living after the war in Sandwich Bay
and acting as sales manager for the "Homestead Farm Appliance Corporation," the book alleges Gordon-Canning had purchased a bust of Hitler and was still in touch with other fascists. Carlson records Gordon-Canning as saying, "I used to see Hitler in Munich and Berlin, and once had supper with Goebbels. Hitler was a fine man, a charming man. If three Hitlers had been allowed to rule the world - in Germany, Italy and England - we wouldn't be in the fix we are now." Carlson also writes of dining twice at Gordon-Canning's apartment in Cadogan Square in London. He states Gordon-Canning allowed his apartment to be used as a meeting place for Arab nationalists and claimed to be a close friend of Abdul Rahman Hassan Azzam
. "I am one of the few Englishmen the Arabs trust completely," he is alleged to have said. He remarried in 1952.
Gordon-Canning died on 4 January 1967.
Mary Maguire
Mary Maguire was an Australian actress who briefly became a Hollywood and British film star in the late 1930s.-Childhood and Career in Australia:...
.
Upbringing and early politics
Gordon-Canning was born in Hartpury, Gloucestershire, England in 1888. He counted the poet Lord Byron among his ancestors. Educated at EtonEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, he went on to serve in the Royal Hussars in the First World War, attaining the rank of Captain and being awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. After the war, Gordon-Canning became a supporter of Arab nationalist causes.
He was involved in advocating for Moroccan independence during the Rif War
Rif War (1920)
The Rif War, also called the Second Moroccan War, was fought between Spain and the Moroccan Rif Berbers.-Rifian forces:...
and visited Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
at least twice in the mid 1920s, the first time for the Red Cross and later to present independence views to the French government. He wrote several books of poetry at this time, including "Flashlights from Afar" (1920), “A Pagan Shrine”(1922) and “The Death of Akbar” (1923). Australian diplomat R.G.Casey
Richard Casey, Baron Casey
Richard Gardiner Casey, Baron Casey KG GCMG CH DSO MC KStJ PC was an Australian politician, diplomat and the 16th Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:...
reported meeting Gordon-Canning in January 1926. He described him as "having come into the limelight lately owing to his having been the vehicle and mouthpiece for Abd el-Krim's 'peace' terms to the French. He has a shifty eye and is, I think, not altogether a
disinterested peacemaker." Casey went on to describe "a very heated exchange of words about Morocco between [Gordon-]Canning and Sir Malcolm Robertson." Casey felt Gordon-Canning's approach combined "journalism with gentlemanly adventure."
In 1929 Gordon-Canning visited Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and met with leaders of the Palestinian National Movement. He was a critic of British policy in Palestine.
The BUF
In 1934 Gordon-Canning joined the British Union of FascistsBritish Union of Fascists
The British Union was a political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1932 by Sir Oswald Mosley as the British Union of Fascists, in 1936 it changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists and then in 1937 to simply the British Union...
. In October 1936 he was best man at the wedding of Oswald Mosley
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
and Diana Mitford
Diana Mitford
Diana Mitford, Lady Mosley , was one of Britain's noted Mitford sisters. She was married first to Bryan Walter Guinness, heir to the barony of Moyne, and secondly to Sir Oswald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, leader of the British Union of Fascists; her second marriage, in 1936, took place at the...
in Germany, becoming the movement’s expert on foreign affairs and "Director of Overseas Policy." He wrote regularly for fascist publications and developed the BUF slogan “Mind Britain’s Business”, which was also the title of one of his pamphlets. After a personal disagreement with Mosley, he left from the BUF in 1939, joining other fascist groups, including the British People’s Party and The Link
The Link (organisation)
The Link was established in July 1937 as an 'independent non-party organisation to promote Anglo-German friendship'. It generally operated as a cultural organisation, although its journal, the Anglo-German Review reflected the pro-Nazi views of Admiral Sir Barry Domvile, and particularly in London...
.
Marriage and internment
Gordon-Canning met Australian born Hollywood actress Mary MaguireMary Maguire
Mary Maguire was an Australian actress who briefly became a Hollywood and British film star in the late 1930s.-Childhood and Career in Australia:...
in June 1939. Despite the 30 year age difference, they married in August 1939. Ironically, Gordon-Canning had previously written disparagingly of the influence and tone of Hollywood films. In July 1940, Gordon-Canning was interned under Defence Regulation 18B
Defence Regulation 18B
Defence Regulation 18B, often referred to as simply 18B, was the most famous of the Defence Regulations used by the British Government during World War II. The complete technical reference name for this rule was: Regulation 18B of the Defence Regulations 1939. It allowed for the internment of...
and was not released until 1943. In 1945, newspapers reported the marriage as over and announced Maguire had remarried, moving back to the US in an effort to restart her career. A child, Michael Gordon-Canning, was born of the union in February 1941, but died in infancy.
Post war
In John Roy CarlsonJohn Roy Carlson
John Roy Carlson is one of the many pen names of Avedis Boghos Derounian, the journalist and best-selling author of Under Cover....
’s 1951 book on middle-east politics, Cairo to Damascus, Gordon-Canning’s ongoing anti-semitism was exposed. Living after the war in Sandwich Bay
Sandwich Bay
Sandwich Bay is a long sweeping inlet of the sea between Ramsgate and Deal, on the east coast of Kent, England. The coastal area consists of sand flats with their associated salt marshes and coastal sand dunes. The Sandwich Flats stretch for about five miles along the coast...
and acting as sales manager for the "Homestead Farm Appliance Corporation," the book alleges Gordon-Canning had purchased a bust of Hitler and was still in touch with other fascists. Carlson records Gordon-Canning as saying, "I used to see Hitler in Munich and Berlin, and once had supper with Goebbels. Hitler was a fine man, a charming man. If three Hitlers had been allowed to rule the world - in Germany, Italy and England - we wouldn't be in the fix we are now." Carlson also writes of dining twice at Gordon-Canning's apartment in Cadogan Square in London. He states Gordon-Canning allowed his apartment to be used as a meeting place for Arab nationalists and claimed to be a close friend of Abdul Rahman Hassan Azzam
Abdul Rahman Hassan Azzam
Abdul Rahman Hassan Azzam was an Egyptian diplomat, with family origins in Egypt. He served as the first secretary-general of the Arab League between 1945 and 1952.Azzam also had a long career as an ambassador and parliamentarian...
. "I am one of the few Englishmen the Arabs trust completely," he is alleged to have said. He remarried in 1952.
Gordon-Canning died on 4 January 1967.