SULLIVAN, William James
| Service Number: | 25 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Jugiong, New South Wales, Australia, 1870 |
| Home Town: | Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Drover |
| Died: | South Australia, Australia, 1924, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 25 | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 25, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 notes 6th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 4 Apr 1901 aboard Victoria arriving Cape Town 2 May 1901. | |
| 23 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 25, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 508 notes 6th QIB embarked at Durban 17 May 1902 aboard Devon returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 17 Jun 1902, disbanded 23 Jun 1902. |
Help us honour William James 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
NOK Mr. William SULLIVAN, Jugiong, NSW
100 MILES FROM FARINA.
Adelaide, Friday.
The body of a boundary rider was found in a lonely place about 100 miles north-east of Farina on February 16 by a boy named Henry Edwards. The boy who is only 12 years of age, was sent to the camp with a message from his father, and on arrival was shocked to see the body of the man on a bunk in a decomposed state. He hurried back to his father and told his story. Mounted-constable Copeland arrived at daylight two days later. He made inquiries into the matter and reported the death to Mr. Burston (coroner), who deemed an inquest unnecessary. The man has been identified as William James Sullivan, a native of Juglong, N.S.W. He was 54 years of age, and was a member of the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen during the South African war. He had been employed by the Beltana Pastoral Company since June, 1922. It is not known whether he was married.
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
William James Sullivan also enlisted for WW1 as indicated in service records held by National Archives Australia. He first enlisted in Victoria on 17 Apr 1916 in the 1st Remount Unit but due to being repeatedly AWOL he was discharged. He then enlisted again in Victoria on 12 Apr 1917 for home service in the 3rd District Guard, with a second attestation paper on that file suggesting a further enlistment on 23 Jun 1919.
On his first enlistment his Attestation Paper dated 17 Apr 1916 noted; he was born at Jugiong NSW and was 46 years 4 months old; he was a drover; his N.O.K. was his wife Ellen Sullivan, Breakwater P.O., Geelong, Victoria; and he previously served in the Boer War 6th QIB. His second enlistment attestation papers contain different ages; on 12 Apr 1917 he stated 50 years; on 23 Jun 1919 he stated 48 years and his wife was Ellen Crawford Sullivan.
His death was reported in newspapers including the Barrier Miner, 22 Feb 1924, where it was stated he was 54 years old. Therefore, his age on his first enlistment for WW1 on 17 Apr 1916, where he said he was 46 years 4 months old is more likely accurate, indicating he was born about 1870. Based on details he gave for his wife it appears he married Ellen Crawford Fyfe in 1904 in Victoria under the name James Sullivan and they had 1 child.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 510; National Archives Australia- WW1 service records; Death of Boundary Rider, Barrier Miner, 22 Feb 1924, p. 1).
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