TOPIC:

In the course of researching the history of my grandfather, William Cooper, who was present at the siege of Kimberley in 1899-1900 as a Staff Sergeant in the R.A.M.C., I've become interested in learning more about Charles John O'Gorman, then a Lieutenant and the only R.A.M.C. officer in Kimberley during the siege (and mentioned as such in Lieutenant Colonel Kekewich's despatch on February 15th, 1900).

I've discovered that the June 1905 Army List has O'Gorman present at the "Advance on Kimberley, including actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein." Is this simply an error, or could he have been with Methuen's forces at those actions (the last of which was on December 11th, 1899) and yet made his way into Kimberley while the siege was still in progress (i.e., sometime before February 15th, 1900)? Or is it clear that he was at Kimberley from the beginning of the siege in October 1899 (or before)? Can anyone help me out with this?

Ardmore
The publication "Kimberley Siege Account and Medal Roll", authored by our host, Mr. David J Biggins, shows that Capt. C.J.O'Gorman RAMC was entitled to bars DofK, OFS and Tv on his QSA. David provides an extensive biography of C.J.O'Gorman and he was a most impressive chap. However, it looks as if the 05 list may well have been in error. As, it appears, also his entry in the book "Boer War Services of Officers". Another publication "The VC and DSO Book" - available from the N@MP - shows C.J.O'Gorman's career in line with David's bio and no mention of Belmont, MR etc. Additionally, the VC/DSO book has a small but nice pic of your man.
Hope this helps a bit.
IL.

O'Gorman's entitlement to the Defence of Kimberley is very clear in WO100, he is shown on WO100/223 page 46, WO100/222 page 3 and WO100/219 page 8, this latter also confirms a duplicate medal and clasps was issued to him on the 14th of April 1919.

Many thanks to both who've replied so far.

I'm aware, certainly, that there's no doubt that O'Gorman was at Kimberley during the siege, that he was entitled to the Defense of Kimberley clasp to his QSA medal, and that he was an officer greatly valued by Kekewich. But I haven't come across anything definitive, so far, to affirm that he was at Kimberley before mid-December 1899, so I thought it just possible that he had been with Methuen's forces until Magersfontein, and then made his way into Kimberley, perhaps at great risk, sometime (perhaps very soon) after that. It seems a bit odd that the 1905 Army List would be so completely (and specifically!) wrong in its listing of a quite accomplished officer. So I'd be very happy to see something that places him definitively at Kimberley (or elsewhere) before mid December 1899.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing the photograph of O'Gorman, once I can track down a copy.

Ardmore
It is indeed very odd that an official publication or publications should get detail like this wrong. I can imagine a promising officer would want his recent career to be accurately recorded (with any errors promptly deleted) to enhance his prospects of future employment. I can also imagine Lord Kitchener or Ian Hamilton browsing through the lists for a special task and looking for "sound chaps" with a good fighting record. However, sometimes mistakes happen.
Regards
IL.

Ardmore,

I believe the Army List is factually incorrect with O'Gorman's service at the start of the war.

In his despatch, Kekewich noted that O'Gorman was the only officer from the RAMC in the siege. The arrivals in Kimberley on 20th Sept 1899 included the 6 men of the RAMC and of these, one officer. That must have been him.

He had arrived in the Cape on 22 Dec 1898 and spent over 5 years there.

If the Army List had been correct about his service he would have earned more than the QSA (3) it reports. But his medals contain a 3 clasp QSA.



Regards
David