Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Martin Sullivan, born on 5 March 1890 at Timaru, was the third of four sons of Irish-born Martin and Johanna (Hannah, née Hayes) Sullivan. He was baptised Roman Catholic on 9 March at Timaru. Martin O’Sullivan and Johanna (Hannah) Hayes married in 1883 at Timaru. Martin and Hannah farmed at Springbrook until they retired to Timaru in late 1935. At the annual concert in aid of the funds of the Springbrook School in September 1897, Mr Sullivan “supplied an extra item in the shape of an Irish jig.” The Irish jig was a specialty of Mr Martin Sullivan, performed in competitions and a entertainments. Along with his three brothers, young Martin was educated at Springbrook School, starting there in May 1895 when the two older brothers (Patrick and Nicholas) transferred from St Andrews School. Martin Sullivan, St Andrews, competed in the Centaur Road Race, a handicap cycling race, held in July 1906 at Timaru. As a young man, Martin junior, worked as a labourer at St Andrews.

He was listed as a wool classer at Clyde Street, Balclutha, on the 1916-1917 Clutha First Division Reserve Rolls. He had been medically examined for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces at Timaru in 1914, at Taumarunui in 1915 and at Balclutha in 1916, and each time he had been rejected as unfit for the Forces – “internal trouble”. When he attested he was working as a wool classer for the South Otago Freezing Company at Balclutha. The medical examination on 17 May 1917 assessed him as Class A, being in good bodily and mental health. He stood at 5 feet 10½ inches, weighed 164 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 37-39 inches. His complexion was sallow, his eyes blue and his hair brown. His sight was very defective, especially the right eye, while his hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal. His limbs and chest were well formed. He had had dyspepsia, but he was free of diseases, defects and fits, and was vaccinated. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – Mr M. Sullivan, Springbrook, St Andrews, South Canterbury.

When he was drawn in the ballot he had appealed, but subsequently left home and entered camp on 27 June 1917, having joined D Company 30th Reinforcements on enlistment on 17 May 1917 at Balclutha. Martin had appealed on the ground that he was a wool-classer and skin-puller at the Balclutha freezing Works. The manager of the works also appealed on his behalf. But he did not appear, and his appeal was dismissed. A social and dance were held at Springbrook School on 17 August 1917 to farewell Private M. Sullivan. He was returning to camp after having spent a few days at Kerrytown. Was this Martin?

After a few months service, he required an operation for his defective eyesight. In 1917-1918 he spent three months at Quarantine Island, after which he was transferred to Trentham. He had contracted syphilis on 14 October 1917 at Christchurch. He was granted leave of absence without pay for six months. He was to be under observation weekly by the Medical Officer, and to have treatment if necessary. Then he was to come before the Medical Board in six months. He was not fit for active service and was reclassified as Class B1. Though improving a month later, he was unfit to carry on. Moreover, Martin spent 14 days confined to barracks for being absent without leave from Featherston in August 1918. Finally on 30 November 1918 he was demobilised.

Martin returned to Springbrook and to his labouring work. In 1926 he married Violet Alice Moffat. They lived briefly in Auckland and thereafter at Palmerston North. Martin and Violet had two sons and two daughters, all of whom died before reaching the age of 60 and are buried at Palmerston North. Martin Sullivan died on 8 March 1963, three days after his 73rd birthday, at Palmerston North, and was buried in the Kelvin Grove Cemetery there. Violet died in 1975 and was buried with him. A brother of Martin, Nicholas John Sullivan, who served in World War One, lived with Martin and his wife in Palmerston North for several years after he retired. Their youngest brother, William Joseph Sullivan, was listed on the Reserve Rolls. And three nephews of Martin, served abroad in World War Two - Patrick Joseph and William Terence, sons of his brother Patrick, and Martin, son of his brother William. Having lived for more than 50 years in the Springbrook district, Martin (senior) and Hannah Sullivan were farewelled in early December 1935 when they were retiring to Timaru. They were held in high esteem, Mrs Sullivan being regarded as the “Mother of Springbrook” and Mr Sullivan remembered as one of the best shearers and stackers of his day. Martin (senior) and Hannah both died at Timaru, in 1940 and 1951 respectively, and are buried in the Timaru Cemetery with Hannah’s mother.

Sources

NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK18805 W5553 0110726) [21 December 2014]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [21 December 2014]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury & Waimate branches NZSG) [2014]; NZ Gazette 1917 (NZSG Family Research Centre) [21 December 2014]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [January 2015; 30 November 2022]; Kelvin Grove Cemetery, Palmerston North burial records (Palmerston North City Council) [January 2015]; Kelvin Grove Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Cemetery Records fiches) [02 February 2015]; Kelvin Grove Cemetery headstone photo (Find A Grave) [30 November 2022]; Timaru Herald, 25 September 1897, 24 July 1906, 16, 17 & 18 August 1917, 4 December 1935, 39 August 1940, Otago Daily Times, 9 May 1917, 16 June 1917, Clutha Leader, 19 June 1917 (Papers Past) [01 & 05 February 2015; 30 November 2022]; Baptism records (Timaru Catholic Registers) [23 January 2015]; Timaru Herald, 5 May 1951 (Timaru District Library) [02 February 2015]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record

Related Documents

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