John Gorman

Sir John Reginald Gorman CVO, CBE, MC, DL (1 February 1923 – 26 May 2014) was an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician who served as a Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2000 to 2002, and was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for North Down from 1998 to 2003. He was a Catholic Unionist.

Early life He was born at Mullaghmore House, Omagh in 1923 and educated at Rockport School in Holywood Co Down, Loreto Convent Grammar School (Omagh), Portora Royal School, Glasgow University and Harvard Business School.

Both tanks were disabled by the collision and both crews immediately abandoned their vehicles. The last to leave the Sherman was the assistant driver, whose exit was slowed by his hatch being blocked. Once clear of the tank, he followed a group of men who were running for a nearby ditch, only to discover after joining them that they were the German tank crew. They glared at him, so he simply saluted and ran off to join his own crew. With the Firefly, he was able to complete the destruction of both the Tiger II and his disabled Sherman. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions, while his driver, Lance-Corporal James Baron, was awarded the Military Medal.

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