Arthur Sullivan

Early life

Arthur Percy Sullivan was born in Prospect, South Australia, in 1896. He was the son of Arthur Monk Sullivan, a storekeeper, and his wife, Eliza Dobbs.

Arthur grew up in Crystal Brook, a small town in the mid-north of South Australia. He attended the local public school and then Gladstone High School. He was the school captain in his final year.

After leaving school in 1913, Arthur worked in his local branch of the National Bank. In 1915, he was promoted to a general clerk and transferred to the Broken Hill branch in New South Wales. He returned to South Australia to work in the Maitland branch.

Military service

Arthur was 17 at the outbreak of World War I. He was keen to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). His parents would not consent to his joining, which was required until he turned 19 under the enlistment standards.

On 27 April 1918, Arthur attended a gala parade in the streets of Port Pirie, 150 km from Maitland. The parade was in aid of The Returned Soldiers Appeal. Arthur joined up on the spot because he was old enough to enlist without needing parental consent.

World War I

On 17 June 1918, the Crystal Brook community publicly farewelled Arthur.

The Crystal Brook Courier reported the event as 'a good attendance and an enjoyable social evening'. His farewell included a supper, musical program and speeches. The local vicar presented Arthur with a belt and a wallet on behalf of the townspeople. Arthur also received a parcel from the local Patriotic Society and a pair of socks donated by a local man who had tried to enlist 3 times without success. The newspaper mentioned, 'the earnest tone of the speeches testifies to the popularity of the departing soldier'.

The next day, a large crowd gathered at the railway station to farewell Arthur. The people cheered him 3 times.

After his initial training with the AIF, Arthur joined the 3rd General Service Reinforcements.

On 23 July 1918, Arthur embarked on the HMT Marathon for England. He arrived in London on 29 September 1918. Arthur went to Fovant training camp in Wiltshire and trained as an artillery gunner.

The signing of the 1918 Armistice in November ended fighting on the Western Front before Arthur could join a unit there. So, Arthur remained in England with the AIF troops waiting for demobilisation. On 23 May 1919, he was promoted to acting corporal.

North Russia Relief Force

Arthur was determined to see active service. So, in June 1919, he volunteered to serve in the North Russia Relief Force (NRFF).

The NRFF was a British force that included some Australians who were in England after the armistice. It assembled to relieve an Allied expeditionary force in Murmansk, Russia. The expeditionary force had been deployed in March 1918 to support the weakening Russian front against Germany. After the armistice, Russia experienced an extreme winter in late 1918 and early 1919. This led the British to decide to withdraw the expeditionary force. And so, the NRFF was raised.

On 28 May 1919, Arthur enlisted in the 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. At the same time, he discharged from the Australian Army. Arthur's enlistment with the NRFF was for one year.

The 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, formed in London in April 1919, was mainly composed of Australian soldiers who had served in the AIF and volunteered for the NRRF.

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Victoria Cross citation

It was in the NRRF that Arthur took the actions that led to him receiving the Victoria Cross (VC). The citation for Arthur's VC reads:

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.

[Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 26 September 1919, Number 31572, p 11997.]

Postwar life

By September 1919, the evacuation of British forces in North Russia was complete. The NRRF had demobilised in England by late September.

On 1 November 1919, Arthur left England for Australia. He left before his scheduled Victoria Cross investiture ceremony with King George V.

Return to Australia

A reportedly shy and unassuming man, Arthur returned to life as a banker in Adelaide after the war.

Arthur attended a presentation of Victoria Cross winners at South Australia's Government House on 13 July 1920. He was presented with his medal by Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII). When they met, the prince reportedly asked Arthur, 'Aren't you the man who ran away from father?'

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Later life and legacy

Arthur married Dorothy Frances Veal in December 1928. They had 3 children together, including twins. The family moved to New South Wales when Arthur transferred to the Manly branch of the National Bank.

In 1931, the family moved to Casino, New South Wales. Arthur became the manager of the town's National Bank branch. He was also active in the veteran community. He served as president of the Casino sub-branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (now the RSL).

In 1937, Arthur was selected as the sole Australian Victoria Cross recipient to be part of a 100-strong contingent sent to the United Kingdom for the Coronation of King George VI.

To join the Australian Coronation Contingent (ACC), Arthur had to re-enlist in the Army. He joined the Royal Regiment of the Australian Artillery as a gunner. The ACC comprised 100 soldiers, 25 sailors and 25 airmen. They were stationed in the Wellington Barracks in London.

While in London, Arthur died after he fell and accidentally struck his head.

Reports about his fatal accident differ. Many articles from the time identify a collision with a cyclist as the main cause. Some cite his popularity as a factor in the accident because he was 'besieged by autograph hunters' when returning to Wellington Barracks one day. Some articles suggest he slipped and fell trying to avoid the crowd.

Arthur received a full military funeral at Wellington Barracks, London. Such was his popularity that among the many dignitaries attending were 9 Victoria Cross recipients. This included fellow Australian, Frank McNamara.

When the ACC took its place in the coronation procession on 12 May 1937, a gap was left where Arthur would have been. After hearing of his death, King George VI, whose coronation Arthur was to attend, sent a message passing on the Royal family's condolences:

The Queen and I are distressed to hear the sad news of Gunner Sullivan's death. Please convey our sincere sympathy to his relatives and members of the Australian contingent on the loss of a distinguished comrade

[Northern Star, 12 April 1937, p 6.]

In 1939, a plaque in Arthur's honour was placed on the railing of Wellington Barracks near where he fell. Arthur was survived by his wife, Dorothy, and their 3 children.

Dorothy donated Arthur's Victoria Cross to the Australian War Memorial in 1980.

In 2015, a memorial to Arthur was unveiled in his hometown of Crystal Brook in South Australia.