Name
Donald T Gorman (MC)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/06/1919
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Hampshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
M C
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARCHANGEL ALLIED CEMETERY
Sp. Mem. B48.
Russian Federation
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Individual plaque, Church of St Nicholas, Elstree
Pre War
Donald Thomas was born in Parkes, New South Wales, Australia in 1892. His Mother is named as Ada (Gorman?).
Wartime Service
Thomas attested in Sydney NSW on 22 Aug 1914 as Private 256 in the 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force. His occupation was given as a Tramway employee and address Ashburnham, Parkes, NSW. He declared previous Military Service with Queensland Light Horse but had resigned on leaving the State of Queensland. Unusually he named two next of kin: Mr Henry W Hall of College House, Parkes, NSW and Mrs R Dennis, Shooters Hill, Oberon, NSW. Thomas left Sydney on 18 Oct 1914 aboard the transport ‘Afric’ for Alexandria and service in Egypt and Gallipoli.
He was taken ill and hospitalised in July 1915, following evacuation to UK he was operated on for appendicitis on 24 Aug 1915 at 4 Gen Hospital Denmark Hill, London. Thomas was discharged from hospital on 11 Nov 1915 and discharged from AIF to take up a commission in the Hampshire Regiment, 13 Battalion on 19 Jan 1916. Sometime later he transferred to 2nd Battalion Hampshire, who took part in the Battles of Albert and Transloy Ridges on the Somme in 1916, Battles of the Scarpe ( Arras) and Battles of Passchendaele (3rd Ypres).
Thomas received the Military Cross dated 11 Dec 1916. The citation read: “His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Military Cross on the Officer in recognition of their gallantry and devotion to duty in the field. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He determinedly led bombing counter-attacks and not only drove the enemy out of the trench but established the bombing post about twenty-five yards further up the sap.” (Gazette No. 29859).
Following the armistice demobilisation was intended to reduce the 2nd Hampshire to cadre strength. However, the 2nd Hampshire was called on to aid British intervention in North Russia.
On the evening of 15 May 1919 the Battalion sailed from Tilbury, rounding the North Cape and calling in at Murmansk on 20 May and landing in Archangel on 21 May. The troops were needed further inland and on 2 Jun embarked on barges to go upriver of the Dwina to Bereznik arriving 5 Jun. Joining with a French Mortar Battery and a half Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps they went further upriver to Kurgoman to threaten the Bolsheviks retreating from Topsa and Troitsa during the attack by the White Russians. This attack was successful but the Hampshire operation met fierce resistance. It was during this action that Thomas was wounded succumbing to his wounds on 21/22 Jun 1919. He is remembered on the Archangel Allied Memorial but his remains are still interred in Topsa Churchyard.
Additional Information
There appears to be no connection of Donald Thomas Gorman to Elstree at this time. His British Army Service Record (WO 339/52583) is available at the National Archives, Kew but has yet to be investigated.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
