Cecil Claude Gorman (1889 - 1917)

Born 24 Dec 1889 in Albany, Western Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Died 20 Sep 1917 at age 27 in Passchendaele, Flanders, Belgium

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Biography

Cecil Gorman was Killed in Action during World War I.

Cecil was born on the 24th December 1889 in Albany, Western Australia, Australia.^{[1][2] [3]} He was the second youngest son of Lawrence Gorman and Margaret Cowden. ^{[4] [1]}

Cecil attended the state school in, Albany, Western Australia and worked as a shop assistant in his adolescent years. Cecil was also very well-known in the fire brigade and football circles, he was prominent within the local sporting community in his teenager and early 20's years. ^[5][6]

Cecil was known and respected for many years within football circles many years after having left for war and being killed in action: "The juniors had their own Association which was known as the Junior Mercantile Football Association. It was from this Association that such players of the calibre of Cecil ("Icky") (Gorman), Bert Angove, Horton Watts, Ossie Angove, Frank Potts and many others rose to senior ranks and became prominent players for their various clubs."^[7]

In June 1912 the paper said "Footballers Cecil Gorman and Harry Donaldson left for Geraldton, to work on the Govern- ment boring plant. Both were members of the lately formed Bunbury Football Club, and will be much missed in football circles." ^[8]

On the 18th October 1916, he enlisted for service in world war one at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia, Australia. ^[9][3] He was 26 years and 9 months old, 5'8 in height, weighing 160 pounds. Medium complexion, grey eyes and brown hair with a dark mark on his right shoulder, which could have possibly been a birthmark. He was a labourer at enlistment, but during his time in the war was a private in the 18th Reinforcements, 27th Battalion and later was transferred to the 28th Battalian while in the field located in France. ^[1][3]

CAIRO, EGYPT, 1915. THE 28TH BATTALION AIF, LINED UP IN THE SQUARE AFTER ARRIVAL FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ORIGINAL IN SPECIAL PRINTS COLLECTION. (DONOR: MRS SPRATT).

Cecil was killed in action at the age of 27, in Belgium, France, on the 20th September 1917.^{[3] [10] [5][3]}

Cecil Claude Gorman's Death Notice

He was buried at the Hooge Crater Cemetery, Ypres (Ieper), Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen), Belgium. ^[11][3]

Two accounts of his death are given and there is some discrepancy. See images to the right:

Death account 1.

Death account 2.

Cecil's cousin John Christopher Gorman also served in WWI and sacrificed his life also.

World War 1 Service

• 18 Oct 1916 - Enlisted AIF WW1
• 23 Dec 1916 - Involvement AIF WW1, Private, SN 6323, 27th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres
• 23 Dec 1916 - Embarked AIF WW1, Private, SN 6323, 27th Infantry Battalion, on HMAT Berrima, from Fremantle, Western Australia ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Cecil Claude Gorman; Virtual War Memorial Australia [online] accessed 18 Nov 2020, by Kylie Haese Here is thewebsite link and the link to memorial for Cecil Claude Gorman
2. ↑ Government of Western Australia, Department of Justice, Births, Deaths and Marriages Online Indexes. Birth. Registration number: 59/1890, District: Albany. Link to search page
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} National Archives Australia, B2455, Cecil Claude Gorman: SERN 6323: POB Albany WA: POE Blackboy Hill WA: NOK M Gorman Margaret Link to search page
4. ↑ Family Notices (1917, October 22). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved October 21, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27458231
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Personal (1917, October 13). South Western Times (Bunbury, WA : 1917 - 1929), p. 5. Retrieved October 21, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210424027
6. ↑ FOOTBALL (1912, June 8). Bunbury Herald (WA : 1892 - 1919), p. 11. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87152668
7. ↑ Albany Footballers (1937, July 26). The Albany Advertiser (WA : 1897 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70265311
8. ↑ PERSONAL. (1912, June 18). Southern Times (Bunbury, WA : 1888 - 1916), p. 5. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158899033
9. ↑ Gorman, Cecil Claude; Australian War Memorial [online] accessed by Kylie Haese on 18 Nov 2020 at https://www.awm.gov.auMemorial link
10. ↑ Family Notices (1917, October 26). Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), p. 19. Retrieved October 21, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37441352
11. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 26 December 2018), memorial page for Private Cecil Claud Gorman (1890–20 Sep 1917), Find A Grave: Memorial #12533835, citing Hooge Crater Cemetery, Ypres (Ieper), Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen), Belgium ; Maintained by IWPP Custodial Account (contributor 48586138) .

See also:

• AIF service bio online: https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=114840
• War memorial biography for Cecil Gorman http://bunburywarmemorial.com.au/gorman-cecil-claude/
• ANZAC hero online biography/memorial http://anzacheroes.com.au/anzac_heroes/gorman-cecil-claude/