| Arthur Percy Sullivan | |
|---|---|
Pvt. Arthur Sullivan, 1st AIF |
|
| Born | 27 November 1896 Crystal Brook, South Australia, Australia |
| Died | 9 April 1937 (aged 40) Westminster, London, England |
| Allegiance | British Empire |
| Service/branch | Australian Imperial Force North Russia Relief Force |
| Years of service | 1918 – 1919 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Battles/wars | First World War Russian Civil War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Arthur Percy Sullivan VC (27 November 1896 – 9 April 1937) was a banker, soldier, and 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.
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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).[1] He was educated at 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 returning to Maitland in his home state of South Australia.
Sullivan enlisted as a volunteer private in 10th Battalion 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. He was still in training in Wiltshire when the Armistice was declared on 11 November 1918, and Sullivan saw no action.[2]
Attracted by the prospect of a tour of duty with the North Russia Relief Force Sullivan was discharged from the AIF and re-enlisted in the British army as a private soldier like all of the other 150 Australian soldiers who volunteered for Russia. On 23 May 1919, a few days before his AIF discharge he was promoted to corporal, joining the North Russia Relief Force on 28 May 1919. 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 mi) 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.
Sullivan was a 22 year old corporal in the 45th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, British Army still under the command of Lionel Sadleir-Jackson when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 10th August 1919, at the Sheika River, North Russia. The platoon to which he belonged, after fighting a rearguard covering action, had to cross the river by means of a narrow plank and during the passage an officer and three men fell into a deep swamp. Without hesitation, under intense fire, Corporal Sullivan jumped into the river and rescued all four, bringing them out singly. But for this gallant action his comrades would undoubtedly have been drowned. It was a splendid example of heroism, as all ranks were on the point of exhaustion, and the enemy less than 100 yards distant.—The London Gazette, 29 September 1919[3]
The first man that Sullivan followed into the swamp - a lieutenant hit by Bolshevik fire - was Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, Lord Settrington. He was the eldest son of the the 8th Duke of Richmond and heir to the dukedoms of Richmond, Lennox and Gordon. He would die of heart wounds two weeks later in hospital at Bereznik. The 2nd and 3rd fusiliers rescued were similarly pulled out of the swamp by Sullivan after either being hit or avoiding enemy fire. The fourth man was some distance away and Sullivan waded out with a piece of broken handrail from the temporary "bridge" which the fusilier was able to grab and be pulled to safety.[4]
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?"
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 and to return the remains of British soldier Sergeant Arthur Evans, VC, who had died in Australia. The "Australian Coronation Contingent" comprised 100 soldiers, 25 sailors and 25 airmen. Half the soldiers were serving troops and half were returned members of the AIF. Sullivan was the only VC winner in the group [5]
On 9 April 1937, eleven days after ceremonially handing over Evan's ashes and thirty-four 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. General Birdwood and a dozen British VC winners attended the funeral. He was cremated in London and his ashes were returned to Sydney and interred at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. A month after the funeral, a gap was deliberately left in the ranks of the Australian contingent as they marched in the coronation parade.[6]
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, four 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 coronation of H.M.King George VI. Thus 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.