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Charles Eugene Sullivan

Sergeant (Drummer), Coldstream Guards – pre Anglo Boer War
Corporal Trumpeter, 143rd Company, 32nd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry – Anglo Boer War
Sergeant, 2/18 London Regiment & Labour Corps – WWI

- Queens South Africa Medal (Cape Colony/South Africa 1902) to 42562 CPL: TPTR: C.E. SULLIVAN. 32ND BN: IMP: YEO:
- British War Medal to 591105 SJT. C.E. SULLIVAN. 18 – LOND. R.
- Victory Medal to 591105 SJT. C.E. SULLIVAN. 18 – LOND. R.
- Coronation Medal 1937 self-engraved to C.E. SULLIVAN. M/H
- Imperial Service Medal to CHARLES EUGENE SULLIVAN.

Charles Sullivan was born on 24 March 1874 in Holborn, London, to Daniel David Sullivan, a Tailor by trade, and his wife Ann, born Ryan. At the time of the 1881 England census the family lived at 29 Gurney Street (Old Houses) in the Parish of Lambeth. Aside from his parents, at home were siblings Robert, a 17 year old Tailor; John, a 15 year old Glass Cutter; Annette, 13, Charles, 7, and Henry, 5.

On 18 October 1888, at the very young age of 14 years and 7 months, Sullivan attested for Long Service (12 Years with the Colours) at the Horse Guards in London. Assigned no. 7557 and the rank of Private with the Coldstream Guards, he was 4 feet 11 inches in height, weighed 84 lbs and had a pale complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He sported a scar under his chin and one on his left buttock. A Roman Catholic by way of religious persuasion, he was passed as Fit by the Doctor.

He earned a Second Class Certificate of Education on 25 April 1890 and his first Good Conduct Badge on 18 October 1890. He was appointed a Drummer on 24 December 1891. In all Sullivan had 12 years and 140 days of service before being discharged on 6 March 1901 – all of them whilst stationed at Home. He had been promoted to the permanent rank of Sergeant on 1 March 1901 – 5 days before discharge. In England for the 1891 census, he was a Supernumerary Drummer with the Coldstream Guards at their barracks in Chelsea. He was 17 years old.

The Anglo Boer War, between the two Dutch-speaking Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State in far-away South Africa and the might of Imperial Britain had been raging since 11 October 1899 and, despite the capitulation of the two capital cities – Bloemfontein and Pretoria – showed no signs of coming to an end. In fact, from Bergendal in August 1901, the pitched battle stage of the conflict had given way to the guerilla phase as the hard-pressed Boer Commandos were driven, helter-skelter, from one end of the country to the other in one of the many relentless “drives” to ensnare them undertaken by the Imperial Army.

Sullivan was at home with his family at 24 Brockham Street, Trinity Square for the 1901 England census – with his now widowed mother and brothers John Peter (35) and Henry (25) and both Tailors like their father once was. He was 27 and a Musician (for his own account.)

After ten months out of uniform, Sullivan waited until the day after New Year 1902 to step forward. On 2 January 1902 he attested for service with the Imperial Yeomanry. Now 27 years and 10 months old he was a Musician by occupation. He confirmed his service, time expired, with the Coldstream Guards and was, physically, 5 feet 4 ¾ inches in height, weighed 126 lbs and had a fair complexion, grey eyes and black hair. He provided his mother, Ann Sullivan of 24 Brockham Street, Trinity Square, S.E. London as his next of kin. Assigned to the 32nd Battalion, he was posted as a Bugler on 8 January 1902.

Unbeknown to Sullivan or anyone else without a crystal ball, the war still had until 31 May 1902 to run its course. After what must have seemed an interminably long time spent on training and preparation for combat, Sullivan sailed for South Africa, the St. James Gazette of 8 May 1902 reporting under the heading, “Departure of Yeomanry” that “The 32nd Battalion Imperial Yeomanry left Aldershot this morning for Southampton to embark on the Bavarian for South Africa. The battalion is one of the smartest raised with a total strength of 510, under the command of Lt. Colonel G. Kemp, M.P. for the Heywood division of Lancashire. Every one of the 25 officers had seen previous service in South Africa, as had a large proportion of the men. A feature of the equipment is a machine gun section, which was specially raised by Colonel Kemp. The band of the Scots Greys played the men on to the Government siding. The battalion has devised a novel method of carrying the bayonet. It is fitted into the gaiters of the left leg like the skien dhu of the Highlanders, it being maintained that they are more accessible than when fastened to the belt.”

Sullivan and his comrades would have had hardly any time at all to make use of this improved access to the bayonet – the war was almost over with the Treaty of Vereeniging bringing peace on 31 May 1902. Undaunted, and already deployed in the country, Sullivan was to remain for 245 days before being repatriated to England on 7 January 1903. He was discharged on 14 January 1903 and earned the Queens Medal with Cape Colony and South Africa 1902 clasps for his efforts. His total service was reckoned at 1 year and 12 days and he finished his term of engagement with a conduct rating of Good.

Out of uniform it can be safely assumed that Sullivan attempted to make a living as a Musician or was involved, in some way, in the musical field. The 1911 England census has him living as a Boarder in the house of Mary Warde at 124 Alderman Road, Islington. Still single (in fact Sullivan never married), he was 36 years old and employed as a Clerk/Messenger with the Royal Commission on Works. By its very nature, a Royal Commission was only destined to last as long as the report stemming from its investigation was published – the nature of the work must have been, therefore, of short duration.

Sullivan found permanent employment a year later which set him on his life-long career as a Civil Servant – the Edinburgh Gazette of December, 6th, 1912 announcing his appointment as a Messenger with the National Health Insurance Commission – a body created on the back of the The National Insurance Act 1911 which received royal assent in December 1911.

It followed a lengthy national debate and the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws, set up to work out the best way to alleviate the economic and societal hardship faced by the poor. The National Insurance Act 1911 created a national system of insurance to protect working people against loss of income relating to sickness or unemployment (thereby reducing the demand on Poor Law assistance).

As Sullivan went about his business war clouds were gathering over Europe. The might of Imperial Germany was set on a collision course with Great Britain and her Allies – war was declared on 4 August 1914 and, ere long, it quickly escalated into a global conflict. It is not known exactly when (his personnel file was a casualty of the Blitz in WWII) he enlisted for service but at some point he joined the 2/18th London Regiment (County of London) Battalion also known as the London Irish Rifles, with no. 591105 and the rank of Sergeant – but it was between late March to early April 1915.


The 18th London Regiment parading in Pall Mall

This regiment was formed in London in August 1914 and, by January 1915, was in the 2/5th London Brigade in the 2/2nd London Division at Reigate in Surrey. They were later retitled as the 180th Brigade in the 60th (2/2nd London) Division. They moved to the St Albans area in March 1915 and went on to Bishops Stortford (May 1915) and Sutton Veny (January 1916), before landing at Le Havre on 23 June 1916.

After four months they moved to Salonika in November 1916. On 2 July 1917 they moved to Egypt, arriving at Alexandria on 5 July. They were disbanded in Palestine a year later on 7 July 1918, the troops going to 1st Royal Irish Regiment, 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers and 1st Leinster Regiment in 10th (Irish) Division.

In Sullivan’s case he was transferred to the Labour Corps with no. 621055, retaining his rank of Sergeant. The Absent Voters list for 1918 and 1919 have his address as 86A Midmoor Road, Clapham Division. He is listed as Sergeant, 591105 with the 2/18th London Regiment. Discharged in 1919 he was awarded the British War and Victory Medals for his efforts.

Once more back at the Ministry of Health, Sullivan resumed work. The 1921 England census revealed that he has taken up residence with his brother Henry at 27 Arthur Road, S.W.9. He was now 47 years and 3 months old and a Civil Servant based at Buckingham Gate, S.W. London. He was awarded the 1937 Coronation Medal in his capacity as Assistant Office Keeper in the Ministry of Health. Issued unnamed, he had this medal engraved with his particulars.

After 27 years of service he retired from the Ministry and was rewarded with the Imperial Service Medal – this was gazetted on 14 April 1939 when he was about 46 years old. The 1939 Register (there was no census taken in 1941 on account of the war) showed him as living at 2 Castle Drive in Dorking. With him were his brother Henry’s widow, Emma (57), and her daughter Eileen (25)

Charles Eugene Sullivan went to live in Sutton, greater London, not far from his roots, where he passed away in June 1971 – at the grand old age of 97.

Acknowledgements:
- Rus on the Great War Forum for synopsis of Sullivan's WWI movements
- Ancestry and FMP for service papers, census data etc.
- Muzza on the BMF for 1937 Coronation Roll entry
- BNA for article on IY departure.

Another interesting story, Rory. Thanks for posting it.