Military Service
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.
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 1919The 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 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.
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?"
Read more about this topic: Arthur Sullivan (VC)
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