Death of Mrs. H. C. Moffitt.
A SISTER OF GENERAL GORDON
We regret to announce the death of Mrs. Helen Clarke Moffitt, of Rockstone place, Southampton, a sister of General Gordon of Khartoum, who died on Friday last. Mrs. Moffitt was closely connected with the Gordon Boys' Brigade, which was instituted as a memorial to General Gordon in 1888. From the very commencement, Mrs. Moffitt, together with Miss Gordon and Mrs. Anderson (also General Gordon's sisters), took the keenest interest in the Brigade, and the wonderful success of the Institution is largely due to their great influence and unceasing work on its behalf. Mrs. Moffitt, the surviving sister, was for many years not only president, but took charge both of the clothing and the canteen, and was, until the time of her death, hon. president. Mrs. Moffitt, who died at the advanced age of 80, had been failing in health for some years. The remains of deceased lady were laid to rest in the Southampton Cemetery on Tuesday.
The body was taken to the Cemetery in a glass-panelled car, the mourners being Col. Moffitt (son), Col. L. Gordon (nephew), Mrs. Staveley Gordon, Miss Rose Gordon and Miss H. Bayly (nieces), Miss Andrews (great niece) Col. and Mrs Webb, and Mr. A. Paris. Among those who were in attendance to pay a last tribute of respect were Lieut-Col. C. F. Whitlock, C.B.E., Lieut-Col. W. J. Johnston, C.B.E., R.E., Lieut. F. C. Palmour, and four warrant officers, representing the Ordnance Survey Department, Royal Engineers, Mrs. A. J. Day, Mrs. and Miss Cuthbert, Lady Crofton, Lieut. V. Archer-Burton, Miss Archer-Burton, Mr. F. J. Burnett (hon. secretary Southampton Gordon Boys Brigade, in which the deceased lady took such a keen interest), Miss Carpenter (Police Court missioner) and others. A small detachment of the Southampton Gordon Boys Brigade, under Mr. F. H. Compton, manager, lined the path to the church, and saluted as the coffin was borne through their ranks. The funeral service was impressively conducted by the Rev. R. E. Payne, Vicar of St. Barnabas, and the remains were buried in a bricked grave lined with evergreens, on the east side of the mortuary church, with those of her late husband, Surgeon-Major Andrew Moffitt, A.M.D., who died in 1882, and close to the vault of her father, Lieut.-Gen. H. W. Gordon, Colonel-Commandant of the 3rd Brigade Royal Artillery, who died at Southampton in 1865 at the age 79 years. On the breastplate of the coffin being the following inscriptions: HELEN CLARKE MOFFITT, Died May 9th, 1919, Aged 80 years. There was only one floral tribute, a large cross which bore the simple inscription "In loving memory, from her sons." The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Mayes and Son, of the High-street, Southampton, under the supervision of Mr. J. G. Gibson. [Hampshire Independent - Saturday 17 May 1919, p.3]