Inkermann - the ‘soldiers’ battle’


On 5 November 1854, in darkness and through deep mist, the Russians launched a sudden and massive attack on the weak British right, seized the heights of Inkermann and continuing in fog and drizzling rain, set in motion one of the bloodiest and most desperate battles in British military history. William Howard Russell of The Times described the fighting as ‘a series of dreadful deeds of sanguinary hand-to-hand assaults - in glens and valleys, in brushwood glades and remote dells.’ Commanding officers could often see nothing and individual parties of soldiers were required to fight it out for themselves. The British on the right found themselves in the most desperate battle. The fighting was brutal, frenzied and chaotic as wave after wave of Russians attacked with their bayonets only to be shot down by the British or struggle with them ‘hand to hand, foot to foot, muzzle to muzzle, butt-end to butt-end’ as remembered by Captain Wilson of the Coldstream Guards. After a day of fighting in a confused ‘soldiers’ battle’, the Russians were eventually driven off: ‘The battle of Inkerman defies description; every regiment, every group of men bore its own separate part in the confused and doubtful struggle, save when leaders on either side obtained a momentary control over its course by means of reserves which, carrying all before them with their original impetus, soon served but to swell the mêlée. It was a “soldiers’ battle” pure and simple. After many hours of the most desperate fighting the arrival of Bosquet (hitherto contained by a force on the Balaklava ground) confirmed a success won by supreme tenacity against overwhelming odds, and Menshikov sullenly drew off his men, leaving over 12,000 on the field. The allies had lost about 3300 men, of whom more than two-thirds belonged to the small British force on which the strain of the battle fell heaviest.’ (1911 Encyclopædia Britannica refers).


V.C. at the Lancaster Battery


There were 600 of the Naval Brigade who actually took part in the fighting in the field at Inkermann and as many more manning the existing gun batteries, their main contribution during the actual fighting being to defend batteries, strongpoints or redoubts. Initially, many of the brigade were drawn up in reserve behind the notorious Sandbag Battery - ‘the abbatoir’, which was lost and recaptured many times that day during scenes of intense fighting and immense slaughter. The Right Lancaster Battery, situated on Victoria Ridge was manned by sailors of the Naval Brigade under Lieutenant William Hewitt (H.M.S. Beagle) and comprised three 68-pounders and a Lancaster gun. It had already been subject to a fierce attack by a Russian reconnaissance in force on 26 October and Hewitt’s refusal to abandon and spike his guns on that occasion and his successful defence of the battery would contribute to his own V.C. recommendation in due course. On 5 November at Inkermann, the battery was assailed once more and hand to hand fighting ensued with bodies of the dead and wounded soon piling up. It was in these circumstances then that Gorman together with four other sailors from his ship would distinguish themselves in saving the battery from being overrun and also save many of his wounded comrades from a certain death. Russell of The Times reported on the determination of five sailors from the Albion who, as the Russians advanced up the Careenage Ravine inflicting heavy casualties on the British, were ordered to withdraw and leave the wounded. They replied that “They wouldn't trust any Ivan getting within bayonet range of the wounded.” The five sailors then mounted the defence works banquette and with the help of the wounded soldiers lying in the trench below them, who were reloading rifles and passing them up, they were able to stand on their own parapet and keep up a continual and rapid rate of firing. The Sydney Morning Herald of 21 October 1882 would later state in Gorman’s obituary: ‘Protecting at the imminent risk of his life the wounded soldiers and sailors at the Lankester Battery on the great day of Inkerman. Three times were the English forced by overwhelming numbers to evacuate this work and the dead and wounded lay in heaps; at length notwithstanding the order to retire, Mr Gorman, with four other brave fellows, stood their ground until reinforcements arrived, and this important post was saved. Many of our wounded soldiers and sailors owe their lives that day to the veteran who has now passed away as the fight of Inkerman was carried on in so relentless a way by the Russians that but few wounded men survived when at the mercy of the enemy’. Ultimately the Russians retreated but two of these five sailors had been killed, Thomas Geoghegan, who had just returned from being treated for wounds he had received at Sebastopol, and John Woods. Posthumous V.C.s were not granted at that time but the other three would later be fully recognised.


During the week after Inkermann, Gorman distinguished himself again, The Sydney Morning Herald continuing: ‘During the campaign he performed many deeds of bravery, foremost among these may be specially noted - saving the life of the late Admiral (then Captain) Lushington, R.N., when that officer was unhorsed and surrounded by the enemy’. Gorman is said to have been badly wounded in this latter act of bravery and returned to the Albion on 12 December 1854, remaining on board while Reeves and Scholefield stayed ashore until September 1855. He would remain in Albion until the conclusion of the war, receiving, on her return to Britain, together with the entire crew, his Hunt & Roskell officially engraved Crimea Medal with clasps for Inkermann and Sebastopol, while still aboard on 30 December 1855. He was discharged with ‘Very Good Conduct’ at Fishguard on 5 January 1856. On the 7 June 1856, James Gorman, Thomas Reeves and Mark Scholefield were recommended by Sir Stephen Lushington to Queen Victoria as being worthy recipients of the Victoria Cross and on the 24 February 1857 their names appeared in the London Gazette amongst the 85 whom the Queen had conferred this very special honour. These being the first Victoria Crosses to be gazetted - all for the Crimea.


Second China War


Leaving Albion in January 1856, Able Seaman Gorman joined H.M.S. Coquette but was transferred to Royal Haslar Hospital on 17 March to receive treatment for rheumatism. On leaving hospital on 2 May he rejoined Coquette but just three weeks later was discharged from the Royal Navy. Within two weeks, however, he re-enlisted as a Chatham Volunteer and joined H.M.S. Elk, seeing service in the East Indies Station and the Second China War. Elk was present at the destruction of the Chinese fleet at Fatshan Creek, 25 May 1857 - 1 June 1857, and Gorman fought with the Naval Brigade at the Battle of Canton, 28 December 1857 - 5 January 1858. In June 1857, during Gorman’s service in China, the Admiralty had despatched his Victoria Cross through the War Office to his ship where it was most likely presented to him by Commander John Fane Charles Hamilton, captain of H.M.S. Elk. Gorman was promoted to the petty officer rank of Captain of the Afterguard on 21 February 1858 and for his services during the Second China War, he was awarded the medal with clasp for Canton.


Later life in Australia


Gorman, remaining in H.M.S. Elk, next saw service on the newly formed Australia Station, docking at Sydney on 31 December 1858 and January 1860 and also at Melbourne in March 1859. Returning to England, he was paid off at Sheerness on 21 August 1860, thus ending his 13 years of service in the Royal Navy, but chose to return to the antipodes, boarding the 755 ton free trader Fairlie at Plymouth, bound for Sydney, Australia, on 7 January 1863. On arrival, he took up residence on Kent Street, overlooking Darling Harbour and found work as a sail maker. He later moved to a dockside house in Sussex Street and married Marianne (Mary Ann) Jackson on 10 November 1864 at St. Phillip’s Church. A daughter Anne Elizabeth was born 25 September 1865 but the marriage was short-lived as Mary Ann died of a fever in July 1866 at the age of 23 and was buried in the Devonshire Street Cemetery. On 17 April 1867, he took up employment as Drill Master and Gunnery Instructor on the Nautical School Ship Vernon. The ship had been established as a means for the education of under privileged children, who would be schooled and also learn a trade. Living on board, in 1869 he was appointed Master at Arms in charge of the lower deck, responsible for the discipline and welfare of the 135 boys on board the Vernon. In 1872 he was advanced to Sail Maker and Officer-in-Charge of the lower deck, and in 1873 received a special mention in Superintendent James Seton Veitch Mein’s annual report, for the skilled nursing of the boys during a Scarlet Fever epidemic. He left the Vernon on 7 June 1878 in the rank of Second Mate and transferred to the Ordnance Department, taking the position of Foreman of the Magazines on Spectacle Island, Parramatta River, Sydney. These were the first official Naval Stores established in


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