Restorationism Runs in the Family (15 February, 2015, 26 Shevet, 5775)
Previous articles have noted how famous British soldiers believed the British were descended from the Lost Ten Tribes and ALSO workedÂ on behalf of the Restoration of the Jews to the Holy Land. We have noted the cases of Colonel John Henry Patterson (1867-1947)
http://www.zionism-israel.com/bio/John_Henry_Patterson_biography.htm, Major-General Orde Charles Wingate DSO (1903 - 1944), and Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen (1878-1967),
Another case of interest involves John Cox Gawler.Â Gawler wrote important works tracing the British People to the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. His works are still useful and largely valid today.
Gawler had been a colonel in the British Army. He was also the son of Lieutenant-Colonel George Gawler who was an important figure in early Australian history and also an early advocate of restoring the Jews to the Land of Israel. We would say that the attitudes of contributing, of service, of helping Both Joseph and Judah, and of belief, etc, all go together. Often they run in the family.
The notes below have been culled and adapted largely from Wikipedia articles just like Wikipedia culls them from elsewhere.
Lieutenant-Colonel George Gawler, KH (1795 - 1869) was the only child of Captain Samuel Gawler, captain in the 73rd Regiment of Foot, and his wife Julia, nee Russell. Gawler's father was killed in battle in Mysore, India in December 1804. The Gawler family historically came from Devon. Gawler was an officer in the British Army. He fought in theÂ Crimea (1812) andÂ at the Battle of Waterloo (1815).
In 1838 Gawler was appointed governor of South Australia... [Australia did not become a united nation until 1901]. Gawler appointed more colonial officials, took part in exploration, and improved the facilities at Port Adelaide during his tenure as governor.Â Due to droughts in other Australian colonies in 1840, before South Australia was self-sufficient in food, the cost of living increased rapidly. Gawler increased public expenditure to stave off collapse, which resulted in bankruptcy and changes to the way the colony was run. ... In his time in office Governor Gawler had managed to make South Australia self-sufficient in terms of agriculture and had restored public confidence. In 1841 he was replaced.
History has judged that:
# Gawler was a gallant and energetic officer who, when he found the settlers faced with disaster, saw at once what it was necessary to do, and saved the colony. #
In 1845, Gawler wrote a book in which he suggested that Jews be allowed to establish Jewish agricultural settlements in Palestine as compensation for their suffering in Europe and under Turkish rule.
In 1849 he toured the Land of Israel with Moses Montefiore. Two years later (in 1852), he established an association for the colonization of Palestine.Â
Gawle... urged the restoration of the Jews as the remedy for the desolation of Palestine. In 1848 he wrote, "I should be truly rejoicedÂ to see in Palestine a strong guard of Jews established in flourishing agricultural settlements and ready to hold their own upon the mountains of Israel against all aggressors. I can wish for nothing more glorious in this life than to have my share in helping them do so." Gawler formed a Palestine colonization fund to help the work of settlement.
We thus see a British soldier becoming Governor of South Australia and an important figure in Australian History.
We also find him as part of the Restoration Movement working for the return of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel.
Gawler had a son who wrote books (which are still pertinent today) identifying the British with the Lost Ten Tribes:
John Cox Gawler (1830-1882) was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel George Gawler. Like his father he served in the military, he fought Â and served in South Africa and became a Colonel. In September, 1855, he was appointed a special magistrate in British Kaffraria, South Africa. Later in 1861 he fought in Sikkim, India. In the 1870s Gawler became the Keeper of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. This post is more of an honorary recognition of service than an actual job. He held the position until his death in 1882. He wrote numerous works on war and British Israelism.
Dan, The Pioneer of Israel
By Colonel J.C. Gawler, Keeper of the Crown Jewels