James Gorman VC (1834 - 1882)

Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Royal Navy 1.2 New South Wales 1.3 NSS Vernon 1.4 Spectacle Island 2 Sources 3 See also

Biography

James Gorman VC was born on 21st August 1834 in Islington, Greater London, England, United Kingdom – one of the spaces on a Monopoly© board. He was the son of Patrick Gorman, a nurseryman, and his wife, Ann Furlong. He entered HMS Victory as a Boy Second Class on the 2nd March 1848 for his initial six months training; one of the first group of two hundred boys who were accepted into the Royal Navy as apprentices.

Royal Navy

Upon graduation from Victory, Gorman was transferred, along with other apprentices, to the training ship HMS Rolla, a paddle wheel and sail tender to Victory which cruised the Channel. James was kept beyond his allotted time on Rolla to work as an instructor with the second intake of apprentices.

On 5th November 1854 at the Battle of Inkerman, Crimea, when the Right Lancaster Battery was attacked and many of the soldiers were wounded, Seaman Gorman, then posted to the Naval Brigade, with four others, mounted the defence work banquette and, under withering attack from the enemy, kept up a rapid, repulsing fire. Their muskets were re-loaded for them by the wounded soldiers under the parapet and eventually the enemy fell back and gave no more trouble. Two of the other seamen were killed. Gorman, along with the other surviving two sailors, was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). ^[1] As well as the Victoria Cross, James was also awarded the Crimea Medal with Clasps for Inkermann & Sebastopol, and the Turkish Crimea Medal, which Sultan Abdülmecid I of the Ottoman Empire personally presented to him.

James was discharged from the Navy in May 1856, however re-enlisted in 1857. He was posted to HMS Elk and, on 21st February 1858, was appointed Captain of the Afterguard (a Petty Officer). On the Elk, he took part in operations in the Canton River during the Second Anglo-Chinese War. For this service James received the Second China Medal with the Canton Clasp. He was also awarded a Good Conduct Badge. With James aboard, Elk soon after visited New South Wales and Victoria three times; becoming one of the first ships of the Royal Navy to be part of the Australia Station. Upon his return to England, James was 'paid off' on his 26th birthday in 1860 at Sheerness.

New South Wales

Still less than thirty years of age, James Gorman migrated to New South Wales, arriving in Sydney on 29th April 1863 aboard the Fairlie. Living firstly in Kent Street and then in Sussex Street, he found employment as a sailmaker.

James met and courted and, on 10th November 1864 in the historic St Phillip’s Church of England (Anglican Church), Sydney, married Mary Ann Jackson. ^[2] The following year while residing at 259 Kent Street, their only child, a daughter Annie Elizabeth, was born.

NSS Vernon

Nautical School Ship Vernon (1839-93)

In 1867, James was employed as a foundation staff member on the Nautical School Ship Vernon, an East Indian paddle-wheel steamer purchased by the New South Wales government and converted to full sail and refitted as a training ship for the homeless neglected and destitute boys of the Colony. ^[3][4] Up to one hundred boys lived on board at a time, learning practical skills and discipline: skills that he too would have learned aboard the Victory as a young teenager. James was employed as Drill Master and Gunnery Instructor, a job requiring him to also live on board six nights a week. In 1872 he was promoted to sailmaker and Officer in Charge of the Lower Deck. As his previous position was never filled, James continued to also fulfil those tasks for the sake of 'his' boys. He was kept busy from 6am to 9pm. In 1878, he was promoted to Second Mate with a salary of £130 ($260) per year, a position he retained until 1881.

Spectacle Island

James Gorman VC, NSS Vernon

Leaving the Vernon after fourteen years, James transferred to the Ordnance Department to take up appointment as foreman of the magazines on Spectacle Island, the government gunpowder storage facility in the Parramatta River, west of Sydney for a yearly salary of £175 ($350). This included a residence on the island, to which he thankfully removed with his wife and, then, teenage daughter. ^[5] James passed away there, aged 48 years, on 18th October 1882. ^[6] The Sydney Morning Herald published a brief announcement of his death: "October 18, at his residence, Spectacle Island, Parramatta River, James Gorman, V.C., after a short but severe illness, aged 47 years, leaving a sorrowful wife and a loving daughter, and a large circle of friends to mourn their loss.
'We cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see,
But all is well that's done by Thee.' " ^[7] James' remains are buried adjacent to the island, in the Old Balmain Cemetery, Norton Street, Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia. In 1944 the cemetery was closed and converted to a public park, Pioneers Memorial Park.

There is a plaque in James Gorman's memory on the War Memorial in Loyalty Square, Balmain.

Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 21 October 1882, page 9 DEATH OF A NAVAL VETERAN. Yesterday there were buried at Balmain Cemetery, the mortal remains of the late James Gorman, V.C., one of the few possessors of that highest of English distinctions, the Victoria Cross. Mr. Gorman had for 15 years occupied the position of third in command on board the training ship, Vernon, where he was greatly esteemed for his sterling good qualities both by officers and boys. Lately be was appointed to the charge of the gunpowder magazine at Spectacle Island, where died on Wednesday last, after an illness of but short duration. Prior to his settling in the colony, he led a most eventful life, having been present as one of the Naval brigade during the Crimea War, also at the Chinese War, and having seen some stirring events in other parts of the world. He was the possessor of the Crimean medal, with clasps for Inkerman and Sebastapol; the Turkish medal, presented by the Sultan; the Chinese war medal, with clasp for Canton; and the Victoria Cross, with yearly gratuity of £10, for distinguished valour. He was one of the Albion's crew at the outbreak of the war with Russia, and volunteered to form one of the celebrated Naval Brigade, although at the time a mere youngster of 10 or 20 years of age. During the campaign he performed many deeds of bravery, foremost among which may be specially noted - saving the life of the late Admiral (then Captain) Lushington, R.N., when that officer was unhorsed and surrounded by the enemy; and the splendid died of heroism, for which her Majesty deco-rated him with the Victoria Cross, protecting at the imminent risk of his life the wounded soldiers and sailors at the Lankester Battery on the great day of Inkerman. Three times were the English forced by overwhelming numbers to evacuate this work, and the dead and wounded lav in heaps ; at length notwithstanding the order to retire, Mr. Gorman, with four other brave fellows, stood their ground until reinforcements arrived, and this important post was saved. Many of our wounded soldiers and sailors owed their lives that day to the veteran who has now passed away, as the fight of Inkerman was carried on in so relentless a way by the Russians that but few wounded men survived when at the mercy of the enemy. Mr. Gorman's portrait, with representation of the fight at the Larkester Battery, is to be seen at the Victoria Cross Gallery, London, and also in the Illustrated London News. Amongst others present at the grave were the officers and a strong detachment of boys from the Vernon, the usual naval salute being given by a firing party composed of the boys. The deceased was a member of the Leinster Marine Lodge of Australia (Freemasons), and the New South Wales Constitution was accordingly presented by a number of high officers of the craft. Mr. Gorman leaves a widow and one daughter.

James Gorman VC medal set

• Victoria Cross (note the blue ribbon for Naval personnel)
• Crimea Medal with Clasps for Inkermann & Sebastopol
• Second China Medal with the Canton Clasp
• Turkish Crimea Medal
• Good Conduct Badge (not with medal set)

Sources

1. ↑ London Gazette 24 February 1857 Issue: 21971 Page: 653; accessed 21 Jun 2019
2. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #942/1864
3. ↑ The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tue 14 May 1867 Page 7 THE NAUTICAL TRAINING SHIP VERNON.; accessed 21 Jun 2019
4. ↑ Find and Connect: NSS Vernon; accessed 21 Jun 2019
5. ↑ Wikipedia: Spectacle Island; accessed 21 Jun 2019
6. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #2039/1882; registered at Sydney
7. ↑ The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842-1954) Fri 20 Oct 1882 Page 1 Family Notices; accessed 21 Jun 2019

See also

• Willey, Harry. The True Story of James Gorman VC; accessed 21 Jun 2019.
• Wikipedia profile: James Gorman; accessed 21 Jun 2019.