SULLIVAN, John Sydney
| Service Number: | 4875 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 September 1915, Warwick Farm, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, NSW, 26 July 1903 |
| Home Town: | Paddington, Woollahra, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Paddington Superior Public School |
| Occupation: | Storeman |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4875, 1st Infantry Battalion, Warwick Farm, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4875, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4875, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Sydney |
Help us honour John Sydney Sullivan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Thomas and Eliza SULLIVAN, 81 Elizabeth Street, Paddington, NSW
John lied about his age and enlisted at the age of 16 1/2 years. He served in Egypt and France and was wounded on two occasions. He was awared the Military Medal at Bullecourt for conspicuous service.
Military Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry in their capacity as linesmen during the attack on PERONNE on the 1st and 2nd September 1918. At the time when the advance was actually taking place Signallers SULLIVAN and ALEXANDER carried out a line following five hundred yards behind the advancing troops, under intense artillery and Machine Gun fire. This line was laid to an advanced report centre, and shortly afterwards they carried forward another line to the Front line Headquarters, although the laying of this line entailed their going over ground under direct enemy observation which drew very heavy Machine Gun fire upon them. Throughout the ensuing 36 hours these two men maintained this line under the most adverse conditions being almost continually at work repairing breaks, and on two occasions had to relay the whole line when it was smashed to pieces by artillery fire. It was mainly owing to their great courage and devotion to duty that communication between the front line and Battalion Headquarters was maintained almost continuously throughout the operations.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 219
Date: 31 March 1973
Bar to Miltary Medal
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 115
Date: 10 October 1919
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