Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

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Death

Biographical Notes

John Edward Sullivan (25/1822), who was known as Edward and sometimes, it seems, as John, was the son of John Edward and Bridget (née Houlihan) Sullivan, sometime of Pleasant Point. He was in fact born Edward O’Sulllivan on 1 July 1892 at Studholme Junction near Waimate and was baptized Roman Catholic as Edward John Sullivan on 10 July 1892 at Waimate. His parents were at Studholme in 1893, the Studholme Junction Hotel having been transferred to John Sullivan in 1891 and a licence granted. In June 1896 John Sullivan transferred the hotel to E. Cosgrave and the family moved to Fairlie, where John was a hotel keeper at the Fairlie Creek Hotel, where as the host he provided “the good things”. In November 1898 Mr John Sullivan gave a special prize for the highest scorer of points in games at the Mackenzie Caledonian Society’s Sports. In October 1899 he was looking to transfer the hotel licence, and the following month he acquired the licence of the Royal Hotel, Temuka (“containing twenty rooms exclusive of those required for the use of the family”). “This hotel [Royal Hotel, Temuka] is one of the best in the district, and as Mr Sullivan is well known all over Canterbury, he can be relied upon to see to the comfort of all travellers and tourists.” At the same time, he relinquished his position on the Fairlie School Committee. Just six or seven months later he sold the hotel and transferred the Licence of the Royal Hotel. He had purchased a farm at Waitohi in May 1900. Mr John Sullivan may well have been elected to the Waitohi School Committee in 1901. A very successful clearing sale was held at the farm in August 1901. But, John Sullivan was bankrupt after about fifteen months farming at Waitohi. He was still the proprietor of the Fairlie Hotel when he purchased the farm, but he had a number of mortgages. On 14 December 1901 “Waitohi Downs” was to be sold. The insolvent position in which Mr Sullivan found himself caused both him and his wife great distress, so great that Mrs Sullivan was prepared to sell the furniture to pay debts. John Sullivan, late farmer and hotelkeeper, was granted an adjournment of an application for discharge from bankruptcy in September 1902, the order being duly granted in March 1903.

Edward started his education at Fairlie School in February 1898. At the break-up in December 1898, a treat was provided on the sports ground – sports of all kinds and fruit, and an abundance of refreshments. E. Sullivan won two sports prizes – third in the Boys’ Backward Race and first in the Boys’ Blindfold Race. He left Fairlie in November 1899 for Temuka (perhaps St Joseph’s). In March 1902 John Sullivan (born 1 July 1892) was admitted to Pleasant Point School from the Marist Brothers School; in February 1904 Edward Sullivan (born 1 July 1892) was admitted to Pleasant Point School, from Kerrytown, as was John Sullivan (no birthdate recorded; brother?). He certainly was a student at Pleasant Point District High School, where he achieved well. A Junior Education Board Scholarship was allotted to Edward Sullivan in January 1905, “amount and school to be decided later”. In December 1906, Edward Sullivan (Pleasant Point D. H.S.) passed the senior scholarship examination, gaining 1392 marks out of the possible 2000, possibly the highest score in South Canterbury, and was awarded £7. 1907 was the climax of his schooling, when he won the dux medal (gold) which had been given to the High School. Edward Sullivan “showed that he is developing his body as well as his mind by winning a cricket bat for highest average, a prize for shooting, and the championship event.” In January 1908 he applied for a transfer of his scholarship from Pleasant Point District High School to Timaru High School. In April, he applied for a transfer of his senior scholarship from Pleasant Point to Otago. As he would have to reside in Dunedin and his parents were going to reside in the Lawrence district he applied for an additional £20 a year as board allowance. The secretary said that the applicant had once been granted £20 for boarding in Timaru, and had given it up to go back to the Point school. It was said that the money had been reallocated, and the request could not be complied with. Mr Maze questioned whether the money had been dealt with.” Edward Sullivan, of Timaru, was successful in the Junior Civil Service Examination in January 1909, passing in three subjects and finishing well up in the order of merit (54thy place).

Perhaps E. Sullivan who won 30 shillings for finishing first of the three entries in Wrestling, Cumberland Style, boys under 18, at the Temuka Boxing Day sports in 1910, was Edward, and the second placed T. Sullivan (15 shillings) his brother Thomas. Edward Sullivan was charged at Timaru in early November 1913 with failing to render personal service. It was said that he had been absent from two parades but was a fair attender. He was convicted and discharged. Two weeks later he was fined 20 shillings for failing to attend drills or parades. The New Zealand Police Gazette of 28 January 1914 carried the following entry under Persons Wanted – “TIMARU. —24th November last, that a warrant of distress for £1 10s. fine and costs for a breach of the Defence Act may be executed on him, Edward Sullivan, age about twenty-one, height about 5 ft. 6 in., clerk and labourer, native of New Zealand, medium build, sallow complexion, dark hair; dressed in dark suit and straw hat; fond of billiards.” A further notice on 18 February 1914 stated that Edward Sullivan had paid the amount due to a constable with the Pleasant Point police. At the Timaru Magistrate’s Court on 26 August 1914, Edward Sullivan was adjudged the father of an unborn illegitimate child and ordered to find a bond of £150 and pay solicitor’s fee of £2.2. The next Police Gazette notice for Persons Wanted was published on 21 April 1915 – “TIMARU. —20th October, 1914, on warrant of commitment to Timaru Police-gaol until he finds a surety of £l50 to secure his obedience to a maintenance order which may be made against him for the support of his illegitimate child, Edward Sullivan, age twenty-two, height 5 ft. 9 in., labourer and clerk, native of New Zealand, medium build, sallow complexion, dark hair, brown eyes, scar on right thumb; speaks with an Irish accent; fond of drink.” In June, he was arrested by the Marton police for failing to find sureties. Edward Sullivan is named, in the baptism record, as the father of a child born and baptized in February 1915 at Timaru.

In 1914 Edward was a labourer at home with his parents at Papaka Settlement in the Timaru district. Sullivan was recorded as John Edwin Sullivan on his personnel file, perhaps simply a clerical error. He was posted to the 11th Reinforcements on 15 December 1915 and enlisted on 16 December 1915 at Trentham. He stood at 5 feet 9 inches, weighed 168 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34-37½ inches. His complexion was dark, his eyes blue and his hair dark. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed, while his teeth were only fair. He was free of hernia, fits and illness. A labourer (for J. E. Sullivan Senr), single and Roman Catholic, he gave his address as Pleasant Point P.O. His nominated next-of-kin was his father – J. E. Sullivan, Post-office, Pleasant Point, and later 220 Harewood Road, Papanui, Christchurch. John and Bridget moved to Christchurch in about 1918.

On 23 March 1916 he was appointed acting corporal. Corporal J. E. Sullivan embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements, departing from Wellington for Suez, Egypt, on 1 April 1916. Appointed corporal on 3 May 1916, he relinquished the rank of acting corporal on 28 July. John incurred a number of punishments. On 25 August 1916 at Sling Camp he was posted as a deserter and struck off strength for being absent without leave for a period exceeding 20 days. Having returned to Sling under escort he was taken on strength on 26 September. On 30 October 1916 again at Sling Camp he was given 84 days detention and was to forfeit 56 days’ pay, again for absence without leave.

He proceeded overseas from Sling on 24 March 1917 and joined his battalion on 18 June. He had been admitted to the 20th General Hospital in France on 22 May 1917, afflicted with slight scabies, and discharged to Base Depot, France, a week later. The next incident was on 20 June 1917, when he forfeited 3 days pay and spent 7 days confined to barracks, for absence from all parades for 3 days while on active service. On 2 July 1917, in the Field, he forfeited 3 days’ pay for absence from parade at R. C. service and absence from Tattoo Roll call. Then on 11 July 1917, again in the Field, he forfeited pay when failing to parade for Guard when warned and for absence at Tattoo Roll call. Having been appointed Lance Corporal on 3 September 1917 to complete establishment, he was deprived of his Lance Stripes on 30 October. On 16 November 1917 he was again punished and deprived of Lance Stripe, for overstaying leave and absence without leave. He was admitted to the 53rd General Hospital at Boulogne on 18 November 1917, afflicted with mild constipation mild. Further hospital admissions followed, gastro enteritis being the cause on 8 December. On 31 December he was finally discharged from convalescent depots to Base Depot.

Very early in 1918 his mother was advised that Edward has been seriously wounded and admitted to hospital in France. His father was advised that his eldest son, Private E. J. Sullivan, had been admitted to hospital in France on January 6 suffering from ventral hernia. “Private Sullivan, who is twenty-five years of age, is a native of South Canterbury, and had a very successful scholastic career. . . . . . during his lengthy service in France [he] took part in numerous battles, but up to the present has succeeded in escaping the missiles of the enemy.” A few weeks later he was still in hospital and progressing as favourably as could be expected. In February he was removed to a convalescent home in France.

When his brother Thomas was admitted to hospital in England on 6 April 1918, suffering from a gunshot wound, John Edward was already in hospital. On 29 March he had been admitted to hospital in England for an abscess. In May their mother received word that her sons were progressing favourably. And in June she received word that Thomas had been transferred to Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital on 24 May, and that Edward had been transferred to the same hospital on 31 May. She also had a letter from the High Commissioner saying that he had visited one of them at a military hospital in Mile End Road and had found him to be progressing favourably - this would be Edward, who had embarked for the UK and been admitted to the Mile End Military Hospital on 29 March for treatment of the abscess. As of 22 April, he was progressing favourably and was transferred to Walton, and on 31 May transferred from there to the Convalescent Depot at Hornchurch. He left Hornchurch on 6 July 1918 on leave and was to report at Codford on 22 July.

But not before another incident. On 29 May 1918 John Edward forfeited pay for being absent for some hours and for failing to attend at the orderly room after being warned. From 4th till 7th June 1918, he was absent and disobeyed hospital standing orders, viz. breaking out of hospital while . . . , being in possession of khaki, absent from defaulters parades, for which he again forfeited pay and had two days in detention awaiting trial. From 22 July to 7 August 1918 (when apprehended) he was again absent, he made use of an irregular pass, and he was in possession of an irregular pass, i.e. a comrade's Railway Warrant. For all of these he forfeited 72 days’ pay. Having been admitted to No 3 New Zealand General Hospital at Codford (V. D. Section) on 11 August 1918, he was discharged on 21 September. On 29 January 1919 he was declared by Court of Enquiry held at Codford to have illegally absented himself from 4 January 1919 and still absent on 29 January and in deficient of articles in Kit on issue to him of total value of ten pounds 10 shillings and eleven pence. On 24 May 1919 John was listed as still absent. Then on 31 July he rejoined and was at Sling under escort the next day.

From 15 February 1915 to 10 October 1919, this John Edward Sullivan, 25/1822, gave 3 years and 361 days of service, all but 177 days overseas. Much of it, however, was spent in hospital, with diseases, or absent. After all these happenings, John embarked for New Zealand at Plymouth on 14 August 1919. He was admitted to the Ships Isolation Hospital on 24 September 1919 - V D Syphilis. J. E. Sullivan, 25/1822, returned to New Zealand by a draft which was on the ex-German Liner Adolf Woermann and was expected at Wellington on 28 September 1919. Disembarkation at Wellington was on 1 October 1919. He was on indefinite leave without pay from 11 December 1919 and was discharged on 24 June 1920.

It appears that Edward Sullivan did not change his ways, assuming that he was the Edward Sullivan who was charged in the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court on 16 March 1920 “with being an idle and disorderly person, without lawful visible means of support. It was stated by the police that the man had been warned against loafing about the wharves, and that later he was found asleep on a wharf. He had only one penny in his possession. Sullivan was convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.” [Star, 16 March 1920.] “Edward Sullivan, charged with entering licensed premises while prohibited and procuring liquor, was convicted, and fined £2 on each charge, in default seven days’ imprisonment in each case, the sentences to be cumulative.” [Press, 5 May 1921.] By 1922 Edward was back at Pleasant Point, it appears. For some years in the 1920s John and Bridget lived at 24 High Street, Kaiapoi, where he was a boarding-house proprietor and where they were resident when he died in 1925. At that time Edward was with them at Kaiapoi. The Police Gazette of 13 October 1926 printed the following Persons Wanted notice – “Kaiapoi. 22nd ultimo, on warrant for failing to maintain his illegitimate child, of whom Leah Tregerthen, domestic, North Road, is the mother, Edward Sullivan, age about thirty-six, height 5 ft. 9 in., labourer, native of New Zealand, thin build, sallow complexion, dark-brown hair, brown eyes, scar on upper lip ; usually dressed in a black-serge suit and brown-felt hat; fond of drink, and quarrelsome.” Two weeks later it was notified that he had been arrested by the Amberley police.

“Apparently Edward Sullivan visited too many hotels of another kind yesterday [13 April 1927] before night fell. He was refused a bed at the temperance hotel, and went for a walk, eventually sitting down and falling asleep in Madras Street. This morning Sullivan, who is thirty-four years of age, was charged with being found by night without lawful excuse in a shed situated in Madras Street. He pleaded guilty with ‘'extenuating circumstances.” Senior-Sergeant Martin said that Sullivan was found last evening in a shed on a section. He had apparently been drinking. The constable in his report said that he had seen the man about town for a few days under the influence of liquor. The Magistrate: What have you to say for yourself, Sullivan? Sullivan: Last night I went to the temperance hotel and asked the landlady if she would put me up for the night if I paid her to-day. She refused, so I went along to the shed. I sat down outside it and went to sleep. That was all about it. The Magistrate: How long have you been on the “bust”? Sullivan: I haven’t been on the bust at all, sir. I only came into town on Tuesday. A further question elicited the information that Sullivan worked at Darfield on a threshing mill. The Magistrate: When are you prepared to get out of town, Sullivan? - To-day, sir. The Magistrate: You are ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months. If you are in town within twenty-four hours you will be rearrested and dealt with on the present charge. Do you understand that?” [Star. 14 April 1927.]

It was on 25 August 1927 that the Star reported “A man named Edward Sullivan, of Kaiapoi, was found last night at about 9.30 with his throat cut in a lavatory on Moorhouse Avenue. He was found lying at the entrance to the lavatory by a man who reported the matter at once to the police. Sullivan was taken to the hospital. This morning his condition was reported to be satisfactory. A razor was found near where the man was lying.” “When Edward Sullivan told Mr E. D. Mosley. S.M., this morning that he had been unable to find work, the Magistrate replied: “I’ll find some work for you.” Sullivan pleaded not guilty to charges of (1) drunkenness, (2) failing to comply with the terms of his prohibition order, (3) failing to comply with the terms of his release on probation. Sergeant M’Namara said that he had at first arrested a man named Cameron, and defendant insisted on coming too. When arrested, defendant was drunk and had four bottles of beer in his possession. Senior-sergeant Fitzpatrick said that defendant had been before the Court in September of a charge of attempting to commit suicide, and had been released on probation. “I don’t think this man is compos mentis,” said the Magistrate. “He needs medical attention; I am sure of it.” Defendant, in the box, said that he was carrying the liquor for a companion. Defendant was convicted and fined 20s and costs, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, on the first charge; was convicted and fined £3, in default one month’s imprisonment, on the charge of breaking his prohibition order; was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on the charge of attempting to commit suicide: and was convicted and discharged for breaking his prohibition order.” [Star, 1 December 1927.]

On being charged at Kaiapoi in June 1931, with disobedience of a maintenance order, being in arrears £20, Edward Sullivan was convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment; to be discharged on payment of £l5. “A disturbance in Cathedral Square on Saturday evening had a sequel in the Magistrate’s Court to-day [14 September 1931], when Edward Sullivan, a labourer, aged 39, appeared on a charge of assaulting John Wardell. The accused was convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour. Senior-Sergeant Fox said that the accused had struck an old man, Wardell, a newspaper vendor, when Wardell had been unable to tell Sullivan the result of a race. Sullivan, in evidence, said that he had taken exception to a term used by the old man to him. He denied asking for the result of a race. He had been provoked. “Accused was raving mad,” said Sergeant Hodgins, who was attracted to the scene. “The old man was bleeding from one ear and his hat was on the pavement.” Accused had stated that the old man had called him a coward. The senior-sergeant said that the police considered it a cowardly and unprovoked attack.” [Star, 14 September 1931.] Another assault charged followed in November 1932, resulting in a fine or imprisonment. In January 1933, Edward Sullivan was charged with disobedience of a maintenance order, which was in arrears to the extent of £l5. He was convicted and sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended for fourteen days, and thereafter so long as defendant paid the sum of 10s a week.

Edward and his brother John were together with their mother in Cashel Street, Christchurch, in 1931, and both were with or near their mother in Barbadoes Street from 1935 till 1938 (Edward) and John remaining at that address until his death in 1951. Edward was back at that address in 1949. Thomas too, was there from 1938. Sadly, the pattern continued. The Timaru Herald report of 20 March 1939 was not good reading. “I am inclined to think that you are an undesirable sort of person and that you took it upon yourself, without provocation, to assault this woman,” said Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, when he sentenced Edward O’Sullivan [sic], aged 46 years, to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour for assaulting a woman on Friday night. Together with a woman he was talking to a taxi-driver, J. O’Connor, in George Street when the defendant approached, said Constable Parker. The woman and he stepped back and O’Connor asked the man if he wanted a taxi. O’Sullivan mumbled something, but the constable did not hear what it was. Defendant then stepped back a few yards, and then walked up to the woman and hit her across the face with his hand. He was not known to the woman, but Sergeant Henry had pointed him out to witness some time ago. O’Sullivan had had drink, but he was not drunk. “About 8 o’clock or a little after I was sitting with a friend by the Bank of New Zealand and a girl passed,” said O’Sullivan. “She said to her companions ‘there is not a man here game to take me by the scruff of the neck.’ I went round the corner to the taxi stand and took her by the scruff of the neck. This chap here (Constable Parker) and I got into holts and I was put in the taxi and taken to the Police Station.” Mr Morgan: You heard what the constable said? — He does not tell the truth. Did you speak to the taxi-man? — No. Then the constable told a whole pack of lies? — Yes. Senior-Sergeant Hewitt: It is a hobby of yours to do this sort of thing. It was St. Patrick’s Day, a few drinks and you lost the run of yourself. Mr Morgan: I am not satisfied with your side of the story. I do not believe it. There was some reason for the Senior-Sergeant asking if you made a hobby of this sort of thing. You have a list including disorderly conduct and two convictions for assault. I am inclined to think that you are an undesirable sort of person. You took it upon yourself, without provocation, to assault this woman. Then you come here and tell an extraordinary story that this woman issued a challenge particularly to you. You will be sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour.” Edward Sullivan was fined again in February 1940 for committing a breach of his probation order. A charge against Edward O’Sullivan, a labourer, of wilfully giving a false alarm of fire from a fire alarm box to the Christchurch central fire station on 13 September 1950 was adjourned in December. The case had its sequel in March 1951. “Edward O’Sullivan, a labourer, of Timaru, pleaded guilty to a charge of giving a false fire alarm on September 13, 1950. He was fined £5. Senior-Sergeant Kearton said that a call was received at the Christchurch Central Fire Station at 10 a.m. from an alarm box at the corner of Cashel street and Oxford terrace. There was no fire. O’Sullivan was seen breaking the glass on the alarm box. The only explanation he could give the police was that he thought there was a fire somewhere and he wanted to see the brigade in action. He was a war pensioner. The Magistrate said that, among O’Sullivan’s 27 previous convictions, he noticed one for giving a false fire alarm.” [Press, 30 March 1951.]

John Edward Sullivan died, unmarried, at the Timaru Public Hospital, from 12 Theodosia Street, Timaru, on 9 September 1951. He was 59 years old. Following a Requiem Mass at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Timaru, he was buried at Timaru Cemetery where his grave is marked by a Services plaque. His father had died, as John Edward Sullivan, on 3 December 1925 at Christchurch Hospital, of 84 High Street, Kaiapoi, and his mother, Bridget, on 6 March 1946 at her residence, 137 Barbadoes Street, Christchurch. Both are buried in Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch. Edward’s brother, Thomas Francis Sullivan, also served in World War One, as did another brother, John Sullivan, who enlisted as John Edward Sullivan, which name he used along with simply John throughout his life.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [21 July 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK18805 W5553 0110713) [27 June 2014]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [24 August 2013]; Timaru Herald, 11 September 1951 (TImaru District Library) [22 April 2014]; Hall and Moore Funeral Directors records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG card index) [2013]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [2013, 14 December 2014; 14 October 2022]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2013. 2014]; Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch burial records & headstone transcription for parents (Christchurch City Council; SC Branch NZSG Cemetery fiches) [2014]; Timaru Herald, 5 March 1891, 5 July 1897, 28 November 1898, 20 December 1898, 20 June 1899, 15 & 28 November 1899, 21 May 1900, 23 August 1901, 15 March 1902, 13 September 1902, 14 March 1903, 18 January 1905, 31 January 1907, 4 February 1907, 24 December 1907, 22 January 1908, 15 April 1908, 25 January 1909, 26 February 1909, 28 December 1910, 7 & 25 November 1913, 27 August 1914, 23 January 1918, 11 February 1918, 4 March 1918, 12 & 16 April 1918, 22 May 1918, 18 June 1918, 20 March 1939, 16 February 1940, Temuka Leader, 7 December 1901, 18 January 1905, 31 January 1907, 5 February 1907, 23 January 1908, 16 April 1908, Ashburton Guardian, 13 February 1909, NZ Police Gazette, 28 January 1914, 18 February 1914, 21 April 1915, 23 June 1915, 13 October 1926, Lyttelton Times, 23 January 1918, Star, 15, 16 & 18 April 1918, 16 March 1920, 4 December 1925, 14 April 1927, 25 August 1927, 1 December 1927, 14 September 1931, Sun, 16 & 19 April 1918, NZ Times, 8 September 1919, Press, 5 May 1921, 4 December 1925, 11 June 1931, 8 November 1932, 26 January 1933, 7 March 1946, 8 March 1950, 30 March 1951 (Papers Past) [01, 02, 04, 05 & 18 November 2013; 18 August 2014; 19 December 2014; 05 June 2021; 14 December 2021; 23 January 2022; 29 April 2022; 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15 October 2022]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs & microfiche held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [14 December 2014; 23 January 2015]; Roman Catholic Baptism Index (CD held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [23 January 2015]; “Mid and South Canterbury Early Hotel Records” – Compiled by Ray Stenhouse (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG library); Death Certificate (bdmonline@dia.govt.nz) [22 January 2015]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file
• Other military personnel file

Related Documents

• SULLIVAN Thomas F & John Edward - newspaper clippings (pdf, 271.7 KB updated 10-Oct-2022)

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