Brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...

Sir Eugene "Pat" Gorman, (10 April 1891 – 19 July 1973) was an Australian barrister and military officer.

Early life

Gorman was born in Goornong, Victoria, on 10 April 1891 to Patrick Gorman and his Irish wife, Mary Mulcair. He was educated in Sydney at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill. After serving as an

articled clerk Articled clerk is a title used in Commonwealth countries for one who is studying to be an accountant or a lawyer. In doing so, they are put under the supervision of someone already in the profession, now usually for two years, but previously three ...

in Bendigo, he was admitted to practise as a solicitor and barrister on 5 May 1914. Barry O. Jones
'Gorman, Sir Eugene (1891–1973)'
''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 4 December 2013.

Military service

During the First World War, which began in August 1914, Gorman enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 4 September 1915. After being commissioned in June 1916, Gorman served in Europe on the Western Front, arriving there in December 1916. He was posted to the 22nd Battalion, an infantry unit, and on 3 May 1917, during the Second Battle of Bullecourt, he led his

company A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...

into battle, and despite being severely wounded, remained at his post until the company was relieved. For these actions, Gorman was awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

(MC), the citation for which reads: Gorman later reached the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

in early 1919 before being discharged from the AIF in October 1919 upon his repatriation to Australia. He subsequently published a book about his experiences, titled ''With the Twenty-Second''. During the Second World War, which began in September 1939, Gorman served alongside the Australian forces in the Middle East as an honorary commissioner to the Australian Comforts Fund. He returned to Australia in 1942, and the following April was appointed to the

Second Australian Imperial Force The Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF, or Second AIF) was the volunteer expeditionary force of the Australian Army in the Second World War. It was formed following the declaration of war on Nazi Germany, with an initial strength of one ...

. Holding the substantive rank of

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

, he was appointed as a temporary

brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...

and fulfilled the role of Chief Inspector of Army Administration, before being sent to the United Kingdom to command the AIF Reception Group, which was responsible for repatriating released prisoners of war back to Australia. After the war, he was transferred to the reserve list in November 1945.

Legal career

Following his service in the First World War, Gorman resumed his legal career, building up a large and highly regarded practice, and took silk as a

King's Counsel A King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their Viceroy, viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarc ...

in 1929. Gorman had some involvement in politics, unsuccessfully standing as a candidate for the

Victorian Legislative Council The Victorian Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria, Australia, the lower house being the Victorian Legislative Assembly, Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit at Parliament House, Melbourne, Parliament ...

in 1931, and serving as an influential advisor and intermediary for the Country Party Premier of Victoria, Albert Dunstan, from 1935. In 1940, Gorman retired from active practice from the Bar, although he retained rooms at Equity Chambers, and came out of retirement on several occasions including serving as counsel for former Premier Thomas Hollway at a Royal Commission on bribery charges in 1952, an inquiry into the Petrov Affair in 1954, and to defend the racehorse trainer Harry Bird in 1969. According to his secretary, Gorman ran "the biggest free advisory legal service in Melbourne", offering legal advice ''pro bono'' to young lawyers, politicians and businesspeople. From 1956 to 1968, Gorman was Chairman of the Commonwealth Dried Fruits Export Board.

Honours

In addition to the Military Cross, Gorman was awarded two honours of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

, both for service to the dried fruits industry. He was made a Commander (CBE) in 1960,GORMAN, Eugene
, ''It's an Honour'', 31 December 1960. and elevated to Knight Commander (KBE) in 1966.GORMAN, Eugene
, ''It's an Honour'', 11 June 1966. Gorman served as Victoria's consul-general to Greece, and was awarded two Greek honours: the gold cross of the Greek Red Cross and Knight Commander of the Royal Order of the Phoenix. Gorman's rooms in the Equity Chambers building on Melbourne's Bourke Street were named the Gorman Chambers in his honour, and have been maintained and occupied since his death by a group of barristers.Two new chambers to open in Victoria
, ''Lawyers Weekly'', 26 July 2010.

Personal life

Gorman married French-born Marthe Vallée, whom he had met while serving in France during the First World War, at St Patrick's Cathedral on 6 September 1920. Their son, Pierre Gorman, was born completely deaf in 1924, and went on to become the first deaf person to graduate from the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

, and a well-known educator and expert on disability issues. Vallée died in 1966.

References

External links

Generals of World War IIMemoirs of Eugene Gorman
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gorman, Eugene 1891 births 1973 deaths Australian barristers Australian brigadiers Australian Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Australian military personnel of World War I Australian people of Irish descent Australian King's Counsel Australian recipients of the Military Cross Grand Commanders of the Order of the Phoenix (Greece) People educated at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill 20th-century King's Counsel Australian Army personnel of World War II Military personnel from Victoria (state)