Tributes to honoured Killyleagh war hero

Tributes to honoured Killyleagh war hero

28 May 2014

GLOWING tributes have been paid to Sir John Gorman who died on Monday.

They have been led by Rowallane councillors Billy Walker and Terry Andrews who described the 91 year-old as a “wonderful man.”

Sir John — who held the Military Cross — was an Ulster Unionist member of the Stormont Assembly between 1998 and 2003 and one of the few Roman Catholics to be elected as a Unionist representative in Northern Ireland.

Born in Mullaghmore House in Omagh in 1923, he was educated at Rockport School, Hailebury College and Enniskillen’s Portora Royal School.

From Portora he went into the Royal Armoured Corps, and after a spell at Sandhurst, joined the armoured battalion of the Irish Guards during the Second World War, becoming a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion.

On July 18, 1944, near Cagny, Lt. Gorman was in his Sherman tank when he was confronted by a far superior German Tiger II and, as a result of his actions and bravery during an ensuing battle, he was awarded the Military Cross.

Sir John was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain and after the Second World War he left the army and served as a District Inspector with the RUC from 1946 to 1963. He is a former chief executive of the Housing Executive and was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue in 1996, serving as its chairman for two years.

In 1998, Sir John was elected to the Assembly representing North Down, serving as deputy speaker before resigning from the position in February 2002.

He was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1998 and was a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of County Down. In 2007, Sir John was awarded the Croix de Guerre from France for actions during World War II.

Extending his condolences to the Gorman family, Councillor Walker described Sir John as a “real gentleman.”

“Sir John was highly respected and the thoughts and prayers of everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him will be with his family at this particularly sad time. He was a man I had the utmost respect for,” added Councillor Walker.

Councillor Andrews said Sir John was a regular attender at the Killyleagh and Killinchy Royal British Legion branch’s annual Remembrance Day service in the town and helped lay a wreath on behalf of the Burmah Star Association.

“Sir John was also a lay reader and Eucharist minister at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea church in Killyleagh and was held in high regard by everyone who knew him. News of his passing is very sad,” he continued.

Councillor Andrews added: “Sir John was extremely well liked and many people will be sad he is no longer with us. Our thoughts are with his family at this time. He was always the perfect gentleman and will be missed.”

Funeral arrangements are expected to be confirmed shortly, with Sir John’s funeral service due to take place at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Church.