Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

One of five siblings who served in WWII, Private James Laurence O'Sullivan (Service No:WX18755) enlisted in the AIF on 7 January 1942 as a Sapper attached to 11th Infantry Battalion. Sapper O'Sullivan served in Darwin, NT (25 February 1943 - 6 July 1944) with 24 Coy AASC, and then with 8 AA and WA Fort Engineers RAE. Private O'Sullivan was attached to 11th Infantry Battalion at Discharge on 2 April 1946.

Jim was born in Bunbury, Western Australia in 1920, fourth of eight children of Michael James O'Sullivan (b1888 in Heathcote via Bendigo, Victoria) and Sarah McCarthy (b1886 in Melbourne, Victoria). Michael and Sarah married in 1915 in Dwellingup, where Michael was working as a Sleeper Carter. By 1919 Michael and Sarah had moved their family to Bunbury, where Michael worked as a Timber Inspector. In 1925 Michael and Sarah settled in Manjimup, where they raised their family and Michael was a Forestry Officer. Following Sarah's death in 1940, Michael remained in Manjimup until his death in 1968.

Jim was a Shop (Grocer's) Assistant in Manjimup in 1942 when he enlisted in the AIF, and following his Discharge he worked as a Storeman in Manjimup. In 1947 in Collie, Jim married Mary Alice Quill (b1922 in Perth, Western Australia) - Mary was a Dressmaker in Darkan via Collie before serving in the AWAS (Service No:WF96184). In the mid 1950s Jim and Mary moved to Perth, where they raised their family and Jim joined the WA Police Force. Retiring in the early 1970s, Jim and Mary settled in Manning, where they were Proprietors. Jim died in 2000 and Mary in 2022.