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This soldiers Service Record (recordsearch.naa.gov.au) (recordsearch.naa.gov.au) states he is 34 years and 11 months of age at enlistment in 1915 which would make his birth year 1880 and not 1896.

Please re-check whether you have selected the correct William Sullivan - Moderator

William Robert Sullivan 

Born: 02 Mar 1896 in Mary Street off Cardigan Street, North Carlton

Died: 24 May 1964 in Bundoora Repatriation Hospital

Parents: Richard Henry Sullivan (1864–1933) and Frances Darling Price (1860–1953)

Spouse: Alice Kellberg (1899–1976)

Children: William Richard D Sullivan (1921–1991), Ruby Joyce Sullivan (1923–2001)

Military: Enlisted Broadmeadows on 10 Jul 1915 — Aged 19

Embarkation: 29 Sep 1915 from Port Melbourne aboard RMS Osterley for active service abroad with the 9th to 12th Reinforcements

22 Jan 1916— Age: 19

Tel el Kebir

Joined the 7 Infantry Battalion

Death March to Serapeum

13 Mar 1916— Age: 20

"It was rumoured later that some men died through the results; a search of the records after the war did not confirm this, but it may nevertheless have been correct." He was talking of course about the extremely harsh, badly organized, 3 day march across the desert from Tel-El-Kabir to Serapeum at the end of March 1916, which involved most of the 4th & 5th Divisions AIF. The Brigadier of the 14th Brigade (Irving) was later removed from his command because he had forced his men to march through the heat of the day, and many had apparently broken ranks to drink the foul water of the canal. On further investigation I found that the 57th Battalion at the end of the first day (Mahsama) had 6 men evacuated to hospital, and the following day (Moascar) another 4. YET the 15th Bde (under Elliott) fared better than the others as they only marched morning & evening (and good 'ole Pompey threatened to shoot anyone that drank from the canal)." - SOURCE (banzacresearch.runboard.com) (banzacresearch.runboard.com)

Serapeum, North Africa

1st Pioneers Battalion 3 day march across the desert from Tel-El-Kabir to Serapeum at the end of March 1916, which involved most of the 4th & 5th Divisions AIF.

“Sapper, also called pioneer or combat engineer, is a combatant or soldier who performs a variety of military engineering duties such as bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defenses and general construction, as well as road and airfield construction and repair. They are also trained to serve as infantry personnel in defensive and offensive operations. A sapper's duties are devoted to tasks involving facilitating movement of allied forces and impeding those of enemies.”

26 Mar 1916— Age: 20

Alexandria ad Issum, Hatay, Turkey

Embarked to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) Alexandria

2 Apr 1916— Age: 20

Marseilles France

Marseilles, Cher, Centre, France

Disembarked at Marseilles Troopships carrying the Australian 1st and 2nd Division arrive in Marseilles in the south of France. The Australian troops are then moved by rail north to the battlefields.

3 Apr 1916— Age: 20

Fleurbaix

Fleurbaix, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

Still with unit

 25 Jul 1917— Age: 21

10 days Leave

France

19 Sep 1918— Age: 22

Granted Leave to U. K.

Most members of the AIF were able to take leave in Britain and Ireland. In general, AIF men got ten days leave there every ten months or so.

10 Oct 1918— Age: 22

Back to the Front France & Flanders Rejoined unit

24 Jan 1919— Age: 22

Marched out to England from France

25 Jan 1919— Age: 22

Back in England Transferred to Australian Army Medical Corps at the Training Depot, Perham Downs ex France

28 Mar 1919— Age: 23

Left England on the "City of Poona"

14 May 1919— Age: 23

Disembarkation  Port Melbourne

TROOPS WELCOMED.

City of Poona Contingent,

No untoward incident marked the disembarkation at the new pier, Port Melbourne, yesterday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, of 609 Victorians and 30 Tasmanians from the S.S. City of Poona. There were mainly invalids in the party, but as usual the Royal Automobile Club and other owners provided an ample supply of motor-cars for their conveyance to the city, where the men had a cheery reception.    

His Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson) was present at the disembarkation, and in a happy address welcomed the troops. He also chatted with men from other States. The Assistant Minister for Defence (Mr. Wise) and the State Commandant (Brigadier-General C. H. Brand) were also present.

It will be a pleasure to the troops to know that the master of the City of Poona has sent the following message of appreciation to the naval transport officer:- "The master of the City of Poona expresses the greatest admiration of the deportment and discipline of the Australian troops during the voyage."

December 12th 1918

            DEMOBILISATION FORM

            Port of disembarkation Melbourne      Pay book no 33045           Regimental no 3149

            Ship    ‘City of Poona”      

Surname       SULLIVAN

Christian names   William            

Decorations             Nil      

Permanent address prior to Enlistment           278 Faraday Street, Carlton, Vic

Date of Birth   2/03/1896 

Rank    Private        

Unit- 1st Pioneers Battalion        Division - First

Date of embarkation 29/9/1915

Status Single – Mother Frances Sullivan

Usual occupation before enlistment     Grocer

Last occupation and pay before enlistment  

Do you request the assistance of the Australian Repatriation Department in obtaining employment? Yes

Are you a member of any trade union? Yes   Counter assistants union

Was there an early return to Australia desired? No special reason

21 Jul 1919— Age: 23

Discharged from the A.I.F.

Melbourne

Medical History No Illness, No wounds, Headaches past 6 months

Medically unfit

1 July 1920- Age 22

Medical Report Department of Repatriation

Vocational training – Ticket writer

HIs eyes are affecting his work along with headaches

This man is very dull mentally, states he suffers from constant headaches. Has glasses for the latter and has headaches for up to three days at a time.

Unsuitable for telephonist

2 Feb 1921 — Age: 24

Marriage to Alice Kellberg

233 Chapel Street, Prahran, Victoria, Australia

Registry Office  J.P.  Frederick Charles Beck

17th August 1921

Deputy Commissioner- Letter

Mr Wm Sullivan

43 Nixon Street,

Shepparton Vic

“Dear Sir,

I have to inform you that your application for refund of removal expenses has, after careful consideration, been declined”

24th Feb 1922- Age 25

Salvation Army Rest Home

Heart trouble

Discharged himself on 16th March 1922

27 March 1922

The Matron

Red Cross Home

Healesville

Dear Madam

                   I am in receipt of your communication of March 17th and in reply thereto, I have to request you to discharge this ex- soldier as from March 16th

Yours Faithfully

Deputy Commissioner

11 April 1923

Residence 336 Cardigan Street, Carlton,

REPAT COMMISSION APPLICATION FOR MEDICAL TREATMENTAND SUSTENANCE

Treatment required for Neurasthenia. Wife and 2 children dependants

25th Feb 1929

Complains of nerves

Diagnosis Neurasthenia- Shell Shock due to War Service

Neurasthenia is a term that was first used at least as early as 1829 to label a mechanical weakness of the actual nerves, rather than the more metaphorical "nerves"

Recommend treatment

Treatment will not prevent him following his usual occupation

Complains of giddiness- headache and extreme weakness

He is a small thin man

29 Oct 1927— Age: 31

336 Cardigan Street, Carlton, Victoria, Australia

Attending Repat Commission

3 Feb 1929— Age: 32

336 Cardigan Street, Carlton, Victoria, Australia

Unable to work. Disability due to war service. Giddiness- headache General weakness

Small thin man. Influenza and Gastro Enteritis

1931 — Age: 35

336 Cardigan Street, Carlton, Victoria, Australia

Occupation Driver

31st October 1932-age 36

Scabies is ascribed to post war cause

7 Dec 1932— Age: 36

Separated from Alice and Children. Living with parents

1933 — Age: 37

252 McPherson Street, North Carlton

4 January 1933

Repat commission

MINUTE PAPER

Complains of headaches; not sleeping well. Appetite fair.  Easily exhausted in hot weather. Very weak at times

DISCHARGED

18 Sep 1934— Age: 38

Divorce from Alice Kellberg

Melbourne,

THIRD CIVIL COURT.-Before Mr. Justice Macfarlane.-At 10.30.-Divorce-Seymour v. Seymour, Lemon v. Lemon, Maher v. Maher, Thompson v. Thompson, Heppell v. Heppell, Hutchinson v. Hutchinson,

Sullivan v. Sullivan, Alford v. Alford, Canterbury v. Canterbury, El

1942 — Age: 46

3 Eddy Street, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia

Labourer

1949— Age: 53

Occupation

Essendon, Victoria, Australia

Process Worker for A.N.A. Australian National Airlines

1 November 1949

Advice of Admission as In Patient

15 Young Street, Moonee Ponds

States he receives a pension of 10% a week for nervous condition but has not been to Repatriation for treatment for years. Constant depressive feeling in the head, and pins and needles sensation in Left arm. Lives alone in sleep out.

Appearance – Red faced man.

Admitted as an emergency

28 November 1949

Advice of Admission as In Patient

Admitted emergency

Patient alleged to have attempted suicide, Taxi sent and patient admitted

5 December 1949

Discharged to Royal Park Receiving House

X RAY

Comminuted fracture of acromial end of R. Clavicle (broken collarbone)

11th December 1949

REPORT ON CASE UNDER TREATMENT

SULLIVAN PTE WILLIAM  1ST AIF

Address 123 Newry Street, Carlton

Patient complains of Nerves and Loss of Weight

Patient brought in by mother. Depressed, nicks in throat. Has previously been at Heidelberg. To return home. Will inform of admittance available

15 Dec 1949

Admit for medical condition Heidelberg repat

Complains- Somebody called him a “copper”. Everyone is singing out about it in the ward- men’s voices

He is frightened of his life. He states it is not his fault. He is not to blame- a cruel and wicked thing-just a torture - never done anything but had always lived an honest life. It is spite- the rumour has spread and spread 3-4 weeks a terrible thing in the brain “I’d rather get out of it than put up with the voices”

Trembles all over at night. Feels depressed “before I always enjoyed life and company and all”. Not sleeping – 10 days. Lost 1-1/4 stone in 1 year. Categorically denies heavy drinking

Personal and family history

Lives with mother aged 89 and spinster sister, aged 58. Father died aged 69 years. Also brother, 62, sister, 55 and sister, 47, alive, married, well.

Patient had service in World War 1. Married on his return. Divorced 1932 owing to wife’s marital delinquencies. Two children, boy and girl, married with children of their own

Patient appears rather unhappy. There is a shallow wound on his throat from an abortive cut throat attempt, He tells his story quietly without overt anxiety. He is orientated to time and place. His thought sequence well preserved. He exhibits hallucinations and delusions which are paranoidal rather than self- accusatory in content. He is depressed. Patient exhibits a psychosis which impresses today as basically depressive.

DR STEPHENS REPORTS

He is depressed, has gross auditory hallucinations, states he is to be punished and has apprehension of impending doom. He states there is no protection for him here, and that he would sooner be dead. He has already made a suicidal attempt. Voices are hounding him to death. He suffers paraphrenia and is 100% incapacitated for life. He is a determined suicide and will, undoubtedly, regardless of the closest supervision, make further attempts. In view of this, and the improbability to acceptance of his condition, urgent transfer to Royal Park Receiving house is advised. Ultimate prognosis is bad and temporary improvement with E.G.T Insulin is the most that could be expected

5/2/1949

DISCHARGED to Royal Park Receiving House

DR RICHARDS REPORTS

Seen by consultant, routine treatment advised

X-RAY RIGHT SHOULDER

Comminuted fracture of acromial end of Right clavicle (Collar bone)

REPORT ON CASE UNDR TREATMENT

Nerves, loss of weight. Patient brought in by mother, depressed, nicks in throat. Has previously been in Heidelberg to return home. Will inform of admittance available

16/03/1950 Age: 54

Bundoora Repatriation Hospital, Victoria

 Escaped and recaptured 11 times.

18 May 1952

Repat Board

Accepted T &P.I. Totally and Permanently Incapacitated

Secondary Dementia

30 Sep 1952— Age: 56

Mont Park Hospital, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia

Secondary Dementia (Alcoholic Hallucinations)

Progress Report on Mental Patient

31 Dec 1952— Age: 56

Alcoholic hallucinations

30 June 1953

Secondary Dementia

Treatment for Erysipelas

18 Jan 1959— Age: 62

Heidelberg Hospital

Erysipelas skin; also known as "Ignis sacer", "holy fire", and "St. Anthony's fire"in some countries) is an acute infection of the upper dermis and superficial lymphatics, usually caused by streptococcus bacteria

24 Feb 1959

Treatment for Chronic Schizophrenia

Death

24 May 1964— Age: 68

Bundoora Repatriation Hospital, Victoria, Australia

Died at 8.30 PM.

No visitors for 11 years (after death of his mother Frances)

Cause of Death

Coronary Thrombosis- hours

Arteriosclerosis- years

Hypertension-years

Dementia-years

Nest of kin

Mrs Stevenson

327 Lygon Street, Carlton

Roman Catholic Compartment U Grave 4856

27 May 1964

Fawkner Memorial Park, Melbourne, Victoria

Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park wishes to advise that the buried remains of the late William Sullivan aged 66 are located at

Roman Catholic Compartment U Grave 4856.