Joseph was baptised on 31st May 1885 in Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Liverpool.

The family has not been found on the 1891 census.

His father died in Rivington Street in 1892 aged just 31.

His mother remarried  to Joseph Woods in 1898.

The 1901 Census shows Joseph is living with his mother and step father at 55 Anthony Street, Everton. His step father is Joseph Woods a 30 year old, Liverpool born engine fitter's labourer, whilst his mother is 35 years of age and born in Liverpool. Joseph is now 15 years of age and a rivetter's assistant. He has two siblings in the household; Mary Gorman aged 17 and Michael Gorman aged 13 and a brass finisher's apprentice. 

Joseph married Annie Coulthard on the 29th September 1907 in St. Ambrose Church, Everton. Joseph Andrew was 22, occupation labourer, Annie was 23, father George a mariner, and both give their address as 16a Netherfield Road. He states his father Michael is a shoemaker. His brother Michael was one of the witnesses. No children were born to the marriage.

The 1911 census shows Joseph and Annie living at 49 Anthony Street. Joseph is aged 25, born 1886 and gives his occupation as a Milling (Screenman) in a flour mill, Annie is aged 26, born 1885 and gives her occupation as a housekeeper who was born in Maryport, Cumbria.

Joeph enlisted on the 12th November 1914 in Liverpool, joining the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21785. He gave his age as 29 years and six months and his occupation as a manager. He was described as being five feet five and three quarter inches tall, weighed 118lbs, 35" chest, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and black hair . He stated his religion as Roman Catholic and his next of kin as his wife Annie, of 13 Blodwen Street.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

His service records show:

20.6.15: At Belton Park, Grantham. Overstaying his pass from 11.45pm until 9.00am 22/9/15. Was admonished as he had been ill.

28.6.15: At Belton Park: Absent from Tattoo 27/6/15 to 5.30am 28/6/15. Forfeit two days pay.

02.10.15: At Larkhill Camp: Absent without leave11.55pm 2/10/15-7.00pm 4/10/15. Eight days confined to barracks and forfeit three days pay. 

07.11.15: He embarked for France with his battalion.

30.11.15: Losing five rounds balls ammunition. Forfeit of two days pay.

20.12.15: Losing one round of ammunition. Three days field punishment No2.

26.01.16: Dirty rifle and equipment. Seven days field punishment No2.

Joseph was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 31, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

19^th Battalion Diary

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.   

Joseph was originally posted as Missing 05th August 1916 but was eventually reported K.I.A. on 19th February 1917.

He was also posted as Missing in the Liverpool Echo on Thursday 31 August 1916: 

Missing. 

Private J. A. Gorman, K.L.R. His wife resides at 13. Blodwen-street, Liverpool. 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

He earned his three medals.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont, his mother paid an affectionate tribute:

“In loving remembrance of Private Joseph Gorman, K.L.R. (Pals), who was killed in action, July 30, 1916.

In a far-off grave our dear son lies,

With no one near him to bid him good-bye;

But the angels of heaven are guarding his soul, 

Till we all meet together at the call of the roll. 

(Never forgotten by his Mother, Queenie, Madge, Joe, and George.)”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In loving memory of Private Joseph Gorman, K.L.R. (Pals), who was killed in action July 30, 1916.

  There is a love that lives for ever,

  A mother's love that none can sever.

Never forgotten by Mother, Joe, Madge, Queenie, and George."

His surviving next of kin were listed in 1919 as; Annie and Ellen Coulthard, born 06th April 1904. (adopted niece) were living at 13 Blodwen Street. His mother Mary Ellen Woods lived at 53 Spurgeon Street with daughter Madge, 23. His brother Michael, 31, and married sister Mary Ann Noakes, 35, lived in Liverpool.

Soldiers Effects to widow Annie, Pension to Annie Gallagher. She had remarried in the September quarter of 1919 to Thomas J. Gallagher and had a son and a daughter. 

Annie received his outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7-10. She was awarded a pension of 10/- a week for herself, increasing in varying amounts, and 5/- a week for adopted child Ellen Coulthard (mother's maiden name Taylor).

His brother, Michael, attested on 30th August 1916 joining the 7th Battalion of the K.L.R. In November 1916 he was transferred to Class W(T) T.F. These men did not serve overseas but were required for "important war work at home".

Michael married and had a son he named Andrew Joseph.

Another son Ronald served in Burma in the Second World War with the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. In January 1944 the battalion fought an action on the Pyinshe Kala Ridge, incurring casualties of 6 officers and 64 other ranks wounded, killed and missing. During the night of January 26th/27th the Japanese harassed the unit's position with fire, and attempted to infiltrate from the sides and rear. 'D' Company was hit badly the next day. Ronald was killed in action on 27th January 1944.  He was 21 years old and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial in Myanmar, one of the nearly 27,000 men of the Burma Campaign who have no known grave.

Joseph's mother Mary Ellen appears to have died in 1939, aged 72.

In September 1939 adopted daughter Ellen, 35, is married and living at 88 Frampton Road, Norris Green with her family and James E. Taylor, 25.

In 1939 Annie is 55, still at 35 Blodwen Street with her husband and children. She died in 1970 at the age of 86.

Joseph is commemorated in Liverpool's Hall of Remembrance, Panel 49