Edward was born 21 December 1886 and was the eldest son of Henry and Anna Gorham.  The family lived 2 Gainsboro Villas, Maidstone Road, Walton.  He went to Walton Boarding School and was a carpenter, he emigrated to Sydney Australia on 14 September 1907.  At the start of the war he volunteered and enlisted in the AIF on 17 December 1914.  His regiment was deployed to Dardanelles on 10the April 1915.  He was killed in action at Anzac, Gallipoli on 30 November 1915, he is buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery.  The inscription on his headstone reads 'In Memory Of The Loved Son Of Mr and Mrs Gorham, Walton, Suffolk'

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Following his death, his Adjutant wrote: "He was a Sapper in the company under my command.  He was extremely popular with his comrades, always ready and willing for any duty whatever, devoid of fear, and absolutely reliable.  His duties in the main consisted of directing and supervising the building of parapets, redoubts, etc., the construction of entrenchment, gun emplacements, or any of the thousand and one things a Field Engineer has to do in war, always under fire, and often in places where none but an Engineer would be expected to go.  On 30 Nov 1915, at about 2pm, Sapper Gorham had just reported to me for orders, and, having received some, was walking away when a shrapnel shell burst, killing a sergeant who was standing by, and wounding four others, two of whom have since died of their wounds.  One bullet struck Sapper Gorham on top of the head, going through the brain, and out low down in the face.  I picked him up immediately and rendered first aid, afterwards having him conveyed to hospital; but he never recovered consciousness, and died very shortly after.  He could not have suffered any pain.  I might here mention that some time previous to his death Sapper Gorham formed one of my party in a particularly dangerous attack on the enemy position, in which he was slightly wounded, and for his coolness and bravery upon that occasion I submitted his name for special mention, so far without results."

 

His brother Ernest William Gorham, 19th Bn AIF also served with him at the Dardanelles, he returned to Australia 25th May 1918 having had his left leg amputated and suffering gunshot wounds.  Another brother Frederick Stanley signed up in Ottowa, Canada but didn't see active service. 

 

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