Arthur Percy Sullivan
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{{Infobox Person
| name = Arthur Sullivan, VC
| image = Arthursullivan.JPG
| image_size =
| caption =''' Pvt. Arthur Sullivan, 1st AIF'''
| birth_date = [[27 November]] [[1896]]
| birth_place = [[Crystal Brook, South Australia|Crystal Brook]], [[South Australia]], {{AUS}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1937|4|9|1896|11|27|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Westminster]], [[London]], {{GBR}}
| occupation = [[Banker]]/[[Soldier]]
| spouse = Dorothy Frances Veale
| religion = [[Anglican]]
| nationality = [[Australia]]n {{AUS}}
}}
'''Arthur Percy Sullivan''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (born [[27 November]] [[1896]], at [[Crystal Brook, South Australia|Crystal Brook]], [[South Australia]], – and died [[9 April]] [[1937]] at [[London]], [[England]]) was a banker and soldier, and was an [[Australia]]n recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.
==Early life==
Arthur Percy Sullivan was born on [[27 November]] [[1896]], at [[Crystal Brook, South Australia|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 Australia Bank|National Bank of Australasia]] in [[Gladstone, South Australia|Gladstone]]. Shortly after he was transferred to [[Broken Hill, New South Wales|Broken Hill]], [[New South Wales]], before returing to [[Maitland, South Australia|Maitland]] in his home state of [[South Australia]].
==Military service==
Sullivan enlisted as a volunteer [[Private (rank)#Australia|private]] in [[Australian 10th Battalion|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 [[World War I|war in Europe]] ended on [[11 November]] [[1918]], and Sullivan saw no action.
He was promoted to [[Corporal#Australia|corporal]] on [[23 May]] [[1919]], and joined the [[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War|North Russia Relief Force]] on [[28 May]] [[1919]], being officially discharged from the [[First Australian Imperial Force|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, Russia|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 [[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War|North Russia Relief Force]] was demobilised upon their return to [[England]].
Sullivan wished to return to [[Australia]] immediately without waiting for his investiture from [[George V of the United Kingdom|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, South Australia|Adelaide]] on [[12 July]] [[1920]] by [[Edward VIII of the United Kingdom|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 Australia Bank|National Bank of Australasia]].
He was married to Dorothy Frances Veale at an [[Anglican]] church in [[Fairfield, Victoria|Fairfield]], [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]], on [[5 December]] [[1928]], and in 1929 he transferred to the head office of the [[National Australia Bank|National Bank of Australasia]] in [[Sydney, Australia|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, New South Wales|Casino]] branch of the [[National Australia Bank|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)|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, Australia|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)|Rising Sun badge]], 4 decorative [[Victoria Cross]]es 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)
*[[Forgotten Valour: The Story of Arthur Sullivan VC]] (Peter Quinlivian, 2006)
*[[Monuments to Courage]] (David Harvey, 1999)
*[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]] (This England, 1997)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Arthur Percy}}
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1937 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian World War I Victoria Cross recipients]]
[[Category:Royal Fusiliers soldiers]]
[[Category:Australian Army soldiers]]
[[Category:People of the Russian Civil War]]