Leslie SULLIVAN

Per his military service record (regimental no. 2230), Leslie Sullivan was born at Orange, N.S.W. He gave his age as 18 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as general labourer. His description on his certificate of medical examination was height 5 feet 8 inches tall, weight 9 stone 13 lbs., with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had no previous military service.

The Wellington Times named Leslie J. Sullivan as one of six recruits who ‘handed in their names’ after an address given at Bodangora by Private W. J. Johnson (who was also the Mayor of Auburn), who was accompanying the Coo-ees from Wellington to Orange to assist with the recruiting speeches.[1]

Leslie Sullivan completed his medical examination at Wellington on 16^th October 1915 (when the Coo-ees were at Wellington). His father James Sullivan gave his signature for consent to the enlistment of his son on the Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force paper which was addressed to the Recruiting Officer at Dripstone, and dated 19^th October 1915. He was attested at Dripstone by Captain Nicholas on the 19^th October 1915.

The Wellington Times reported that Leslie Sullivan in a note home described the Coo-ee March ‘trip as splendid, and says it is worth walking over the mountains to see the wonderful sights, and that he also ‘speaks very highly of the O.C., and says there is not a man among them who would not follow him to the hottest fighting place in the Dardanelles’.[2]

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 6^th Light Horse Regiment.

The Wellington Times reported that Leslie Sullivan was given a send-off by the people of Bodangora in the Convent School Hall on Monday 7^th February 2016, with singing, dancing and recitations during the evening’s festivities, where he was presented with a wristlet watch, a pocket wallet, a safety shaving set in a silver case, and a set of military hair brushes in a leather case. He was also given a fountain pen in a silver case to give to Trooper Jimmy [James] Taylor at Liverpool Camp, who had left with him from Bodangora to join the Coo-ees. In returning thanks, Trooper Sullivan said ‘he could not speak well, but he thanked them and would do his best’.[3]

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Bodangora, Wellington, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his mother, Mrs Alice Elizabeth Sullivan, at the same address.

On 22^nd March 1916 Trooper Sullivan departed Sydney on the HMAT A4 Pera, as 15^th reinforcement for the 6^th Light Horse Regiment.

After arriving at Suez in Egypt, on the 21^st April 1916 Trooper Sullivan was admitted to the Government Hospital sick. On 22^nd April 1916 Trooper Sullivan was taken on strength of the 2^nd Light Horse Training Battalion, whilst in hospital.

On 25^th April 1916 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Abbassia, Egypt. He was discharged on 2^nd June 1916 and marched into the 2^nd Light Horse Training Regiment at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt on 5^th June 1916.

On 6^th July 1916 Trooper Sullivan was transferred to the 2nd Double Squadron at Serapeum, Egypt.

On 2^nd November 1916 he was transferred to the 4^th Australian Camel Regiment at Abbassia, Egypt.

On 13^th January 1917 Trooper Sullivan was charged with being absent without leave from 1800 till 2030 on 11^th January 1917. He was awarded 7 days confined to barracks.

On 24^th January 1917 Trooper Sullivan was charged with being absent without leave from 1700 till 2120 on the 23^rd January 1917. He was awarded 14 days confined to barracks.

On 7^th February 1917 Trooper Sullivan was transferred to the 17^th Company of the Imperial Camel Corps.

On 10^th March 1918 Trooper Sullivan was sent to the Port Said Rest Camp. He rejoined his unit on 8^th April 1918.

On 28^th May 1918 Trooper Sullivan was promoted to Lance Corporal.

On 29^th June 1918 Lance Corporal Sullivan was admitted to the Isolation Camp sick. On 10^th July 1918 he was transferred to the 26^th Stationary Hospital at Ismailia, Egypt. On 1^st August 1918 he was sent to the Port Said Rest Camp. He was discharged on 15^th August 1918.

On 23^rd August 1918 Lance Corporal Sullivan was transferred to the 14^th Light Horse Regiment at Ismailia, Egypt.

On 25^th October 1918 Lance Corporal Sullivan was sent to hospital sick. On 5^th November 1918 he was transferred to the 31^st General Hospital at Ismailia, Egypt, suffering from Influenza. He was discharged on 16^th November 1918. On 20^th November 1918 he was sent to the Port Said Rest Camp.

He rejoined his unit on 12^th December 1918.

On 5^th February 1919 Lance Corporal Sullivan was admitted to hospital suffering from Malaria. He was transferred to a Convalescent Depot on 6^th March 1919.

He rejoined his unit at Moascar on 13^th March 1919.

On 14^th June 1919 he was charged with being absent without leave from 0630 till 0915 on 8^th June 1919, and was deprived of one day’s pay.

Lance Corporal Sullivan commenced his return to Australia on H.T. Dongola from Kantara in Egypt on 24^th July 1919. He disembarked at Sydney on 28^th August 1919.

He was discharged on 21^st October 1919.

[1] ‘District news. Bodangora’, Wellington Times, 21 October 1915, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143396661

[2] ‘District news. Bodangora’, Wellington Times, 11 November 1915 , p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143396376

[3] ‘Send off to Trooper Leslie Sullivan’, Wellington Times, 10 February 1916 , p. 7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143392079