Next of kin plaque: Private Patrick John Gorman, 9th Battalion, AIF

Places
Accession Number AWM2019.80.1
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Bronze
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made c 1922
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the impressed name 'PATRICK JOHN GORMAN'.

History / Summary

Born in Cunnamulla, Queensland, Patrick John Gorman was employed in a sawmill at Canungra when he enlisted in the AIF on 5 January 1915, aged 29. After training in Brisbane he was posted a private, service number 1766, to the 4th Reinforcements for 9th Battalion. The unit embarked from Brisbane on 8 April, aboard HMAT A15 Star of England.

After a brief period of training in Egypt Gorman joined his battalion at Gallipoli on 4 June. He was evacuated sick to England on 6 September, only rejoining his battalion in Egypt in March 1916. The following month the battalion moved to France for service on the Western Front. Gorman was promoted lance corporal on 1 August, but reverted to private, at his own request, in May 1917. Between August 1917 and February 1918 Gorman was detached for service with 1st Division Headquarters. He rejoined his battalion at Neuve Eglise, Belgium on 3 February.

On 26 March, near Hollebeke, a patrol of six men left Belgium Wood at 2.30 am and encountered a strong German patrol at West Pond. Five of the six were wounded but all made it back to the battalion lines. A second patrol of an officer and 20 men, including Gorman, and a Lewis gun, left at 5.30am to repel the German patrol. At first they were successful and the Germans retired to pillboxes. The Australian patrol was on the point of retiring when more Germans emerged from the pillboxes and opened fire with two machine guns. The Lewis gun was immoblised; Gorman was among five men killed. He is buried in the Oxford Road Cemetery near Ypres.

This commemorative plaque was sent to Gorman's eldest sister, Margaret Jean Gorman, in November 1922.