Regiment: Loyal Edmonton; Medical Corps; Grande Prairie Training Centre, Maple Creek Saskatchewan Training Centre
Regimental No: 17194
Rank: Sergeant
Thomas James (“Tommy”) Gorman was born in Northern Ireland (Glenarn, County of Fermanagh) on February 9, 1908. After completing his schooling in Ireland (being an honours graduate in English, and graduated from agricultural college), he immigrated to Canada in 1926 with his father and step-mother. They purchased a farm and dairy near Sexsmith AB. Tragically, his father was killed in 1928, leaving Tommy to take over the dairy operation, but he sold the cows in 1929/ 1930 concentrating on grain farming. On June 13, 1931 Tommy married Helen(a) Schmidt who was from Russia, and whose family settled in Buffalo Lakes. Making their home on the Sexsmith farm, the Gormans raised 5 children: Mary, Pat, Kitty, Terry, and Jimmy. (Pat owned Pat’s Auto Supply in Grande Prairie). They sold the farm and moved to Grande Prairie in 1940 when Tommy enlisted in military service in Edmonton. Due to medical problems, Tommy could not serve overseas, as he had hoped to visit Ireland again. However, he joined the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, was in the Medical Corps, worked in administration at the training centre in Grande Prairie. During that time, Tommy and his whole family lived in Grande Prairie near the training centre. Once more, Tommy tried to go overseas being sent for advanced training at Maple Creek SK. Unfortunately, due to his poor vision, he returned to Edmonton. After his discharge in 1944, Tommy held a number of important positions: 1945 – worked for the Department of Municipal Affairs in the Peace River district (lived in Peace River); 1946 – Department of Lands and Forests as “Homestead Inspector”; 1948 – Soil Inspector for the new lands under the Homestead Leases; 1955 – District Supervisor of Provincial Land Office. One of his memorable jobs was a soil survey (with some other workers) by saddle horse and on foot in a remote wilderness for 3 weeks in 1953. After retiring in 1973, and moving to Grande Prairie, Tommy enjoyed helping out on his son Pat’s farm where he fixed fences and chased horses. Travelling throughout the world with Helena, Tommy finally made it back to see his homeland Ireland. Helena had predeceased him when Tommy died on February 8, 2006 at age 97 (almost 98), at McKenzie Place in Grande Prairie.
Source: Daily Herald-Tribune April 4, 1940
Surname File: Pat Gorman – obituary
News article April 5, 1955 “Homestead Inspector” Patrick and T.J.; Photo
Interview transcript of Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Gorman by Milton Menzies February 7, 1990, including handwritten notes
News article (no date) “Wartime training centre remembered”; Photo