| Place | Europe: Western Front |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL42289 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Silver |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | France |
| Date made | 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
French coin engraved as an identity disc : Captain T E Gorman, Royal Flying Corps
Description
French silver coin engraved as an identity disc. The obverse features a full-body relief of La Semeuse (The Sower); a woman sowing seed from a bag she carries with a rising sun in the background. Around her is, 'REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE'. Stamped beneath her is, 'O ROTY'. The reverse has been ground down and engraved with, 'ROYAL FLYING CORPS CAPT T E GORMAN 3579 RC 1916-18'. The coin is pierced with two holes through which are short lengths of single-twist link chain connected by a circular spring-loaded clip.
History / Summary
Worn by Captain T E Gorman, RAF. Born in Glen Innes, NSW in 1888, Thomas Edward 'Ted' Gorman joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in England in 1916. Captain Gorman saw service over the Western Front with 12 Squadron and 49 Squadron, RFC and RAF for the next two years, returning to Australia in 1918.
He married Frances Maude Haines in October 1918. They raised a family of eight children and ran the successful 'Nangunia' property near Berrigan and later 'Fairchild' near Yerong Creek, NSW. Ted Gorman died as a result of a car accident in 1955.