John James Gorrie was one of the three children of John James Gorrie (d. 25/8/1888) and his wife, Norah (d. 15/12/1918). From these dates, we might guess that the younger John James was the youngest child, as his father died in the year following his birth. On his enlistment form, he nominates his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis, of 32 Ewing St., East Brunswick, as his next of kin and she will, after his death, claim the medals awarded to him.
At the time he enlisted he was 3o years and one month old, by trade, a cook. He was 5' 9 1/2" tall, with light brown hair and brown eyes. He had tried to enlist once before, but had been rejected due to a hernia.
John Gorrie was placed with A Company, 10th Battalion at Geelong, then transferred to the 14th Battalion, at Royal Parade, Parkville. With other volunteers, he embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Ballarat on 19 February, 1917, landing at Devonport, England on 25 April. After treatment, he was discharged to No.1 Command Deport on 2 May, then marched out to the 4th Training Battalion at Codford. On 8 May he marched in to the No. 1 Command Depot and was sent off to France. They landed at Havre and proceeded to the 4th Australian Division base.
On 19 August, 1917, John Gorrie marched in and was taken on strength with the 14th Battalion, part of the newly formed 4th Brigade, fighting on the Western Front. The Battalion had heavy fighting at Pozieres (August 1916) and no doubt new recruits were very welcome. John Gorrie would have taken part in the next major action, the first and second battles of Bullecourt, where again they suffered huge losses, when the 4th Brigade went in to battle against the strongly fortified German positions without the promised tank support.
John James Gorrie was killed in action in the field in Belgium on 27 September, 1917, as the Allies advanced to the Hindenburg Line. He is listed on the War Memorial at Mening Gate (Ypres). He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory medal. His sister received a memrial plaque.
National Archives of Australia, Enlistment Record.
Wikipaedia 14th Battalion AIF