Arthur Percy Sullivan

Infobox Military Person
name= Arthur Percy Sullivan


caption= Pvt. Arthur Sullivan, 1st AIF
born= 27 November 1896
died= death date and age|1937|4|9|1896|11|27|df=y
placeofbirth= Crystal Brook, South Australia, Australia
placeofdeath= Westminster, London, England
nickname=
allegiance= British Empire
branch= Australian Imperial Force North Russia Relief Force
serviceyears= 1918 – 1920
rank= Corporal
unit=
commands=
battles= First World War Russian Civil War
awards= Victoria Cross
relations=
laterwork=

Arthur Percy Sullivan VC (27 November 1896 – 9 April 1937) was a banker and soldier, and was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

Arthur Percy Sullivan was born on 27 November 1896, at Crystal Brook, South Australia, the son of Arthur Monks Sullivan, a storekeeper, and his wife Eliza, (née Dobbs). He was educated Crystal Brook Public School and Gladstone High School. After completing his education in 1913, he was offered an apprenticeship in the same year at the National Bank of Australasia in Gladstone. Shortly after he was transferred to Broken Hill, New South Wales, before returing to Maitland in his home state of South Australia.

Military service

Sullivan enlisted as a volunteer private in 10th Batalion of the First Australian Imperial Force on 27 April 1918, and embarked for Europe in July 1918 as general reinforcements. Upon arriving in Europe, Sullivan transferred to the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery on 5 October 1918, but the war in Europe ended on 11 November 1918, and Sullivan saw no action.

He was promoted to corporal on 23 May 1919, and joined the North Russia Relief Force on 28 May 1919, being officially discharged from the AIF at the same time. For the Russian campaign he was enlisted into LW de V. Sadlier-Jackson's 45th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, of the British Army.

The relief force landed at Archangel on 5 June 1919, and began to deploy immediately, in the process relieving the original expeditionary force which had been in Russia since 1918. By July 1919, 45th Battalion had moved 240 kilometres (150 miles) towards the front line.

On 10 August 1919, they had arrived at the Dvina front in northern Russia, where Sullivan's brigade were to launch an attack to aid the evacuation of the last remaining members of the 1918 expeditionary force, boost the morale of the White Russians, and harass and disrupt the Bolshevik positions. The attack was a great success with very few British casualties.

Despite the overall success of the attack, Sullivan's platoon was cut off from the rest of the brigade as they fought a rearguard covering action. In the course of fighting their way back to their own lines, Sullivan's platoon came under heavy fire whilst trying to traverse the Sheika River, which they had to cross by means of a narrow plank, and during the passage an officer and three men fell into a deep swamp. Without hesitation, Corporal Sullivan, under heavy fire, jumped into the river and rescued all four, bringing them out singly.

The Bolsheviks turned their fire intensely upon Sullivan, but he was able to complete the rescue. But for this daring action, the men would undoubtedly have drowned, as all ranks were exhausted and the enemy was less than convert|100|yd away. For this act of gallantry in the face of the enemy, Arthur Sullivan was nominated for the award of the Victoria Cross.

The evacuation of all forces was completed by late September, 1919, and the North Russia Relief Force was demobilised upon their return to England.

Sullivan wished to return to Australia immediately without waiting for his investiture from King George V. It has been suggested that he was embarrassed at the prospect of meeting the King. He left England on 1 November 1919.

He was presented with his Victoria Cross in Adelaide on 12 July 1920 by Edward, the Prince of Wales during his royal tour of Australia, who smiled at Sullivan, and quipped "Aren't you the man who ran away from father?"

Later life

Arthur Sullivan was a very popular man, and was known as the "Shy VC". Upon his return to Australia, he resumed his former employment with the National Bank of Australasia.

He was married to Dorothy Frances Veale at an Anglican church in Fairfield, Victoria, on 5 December 1928, and in 1929 he transferred to the head office of the National Bank of Australasia in Sydney where he and Dorothy were to live happily for five years. During this time they had three children, two of whom were twins.

In 1934, Sullivan was made the manager of the Casino branch of the National Bank of Australasia. As a Victoria Cross recipient, Sullivan was selected to join the Australian contingent to attend the coronation of King George VI. He was also chosen to return the remains of British soldier Sergeant Arthur Evans, VC, who had died in Australia.

On 9 April 1937, 11 days after ceremonially handing over Evan's ashes and 34 days before King George VI's coronation, Arthur Sullivan died when he was returning to his accommodation and accidentally slipped in Birdcage Walk, Westminster, near the Wellington Barracks, and struck his head against the kerb. He was taken immediately to hospital, but died soon after from the severity of the head injuries he had sustained.

Arthur Sullivan was afforded a full military funeral in London where the Australian contingent's salute volley was respectfully returned by the Foot Guards. He was cremated in London and his ashes were returned to Sydney and interred at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium.

In 1939 a plaque was placed upon the iron railings of Wellington Barracks in his honour. It features the second version of the Australian Army's Rising Sun badge, 4 decorative Victoria Crosses in each corner, a twisted vine of leaves, and reads:

"To The Glory Of God And In Ever Living Memory Of Gnr. Arthur P. Sullivan. V.C. Who was accidentally killed on April 9th 1937 whilst serving as a representative of his country at the corontation of H.M.King George VI. THIS TABLET WAS ERECTED BY HIS COMRADES OF THE AUSTRALIAN CORONATION CONTINGENT 1939."

His wife Dorothy died in 1980 and left his Victoria Cross to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where it is displayed in the Hall of Valour.

References

*"Elegant Extracts" - The Royal Fusiliers Recipients of the VC (J.P. Kelleher, 2001)
* (Peter Quinlivian, 2006)
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)