Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Nicholas John Sullivan, born on 13 June 1886 at Timaru, was the second of four sons of Martin and Johanna (Hannah, née Hayes) Sullivan. Named after his maternal grandfather, Nicholas Hayes, he was baptised Roman Catholic on 14 July 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. Nicholas and his older brother, Patrick, transferred from St Andrews School to Springbrook School in May 1895. There they were joined by the two younger boys, Martin and William (Bill). Nicholas was into cycling. At the South Canterbury Caledonian Society’s meeting at New Year 1908, he finished third in the Half-Mile Handicap, his handicap being 60 yards. He also competed in the One Mile Farewell Handicap. He entered the Waimate Caledonian Society’s Boxing Day 1908 open events and the Two Mile Local. The next year he entered the One Mile, Three Mile and Wheel race (2 miles), his handicaps much reduced in all events. In the 1½ Mile Local, he rode off scratch. He won the second heat of the Wheel Race, and finished third in the Three Mile Handicap, winning 10 shillings. At the Timaru 1910 New Year meeting he again enjoyed success, winning the second heat in the Grand Caledonian Handicap and competing well in the final, and finishing third in the One Mile Handicap final (£1). On the second day he won £1 for third place in the Half-Mile Handicap final and £2 for second place in the One Mile final. It was at the St Andrews Caledonian Sports on 1 December 1910 that he filled third place in the One Mile Bicycle Handicap. In November 1911 he competed in the R.S.A. road race which covered a 25-mile course from Temuka to Washdyke to Winchester and back to Temuka. In December he was back, successful, at the Waimate Boxing Day sports.

On leaving school, Nicholas worked first as a labourer at home. In October 1912 he accepted a position as ranger at Otaio for the Acclimatisation Society. By 1914 he was a railway porter at Rolleston, which position he held when he was called up and enlisted. Nicholas enlisted on 16 June 1917 at Christchurch. He underwent the medical examination on the same day. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 162 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35-38 inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes dark blue and his hair dark. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. He was free of illnesses, diseases, slight defects and fits, and was vaccinated. Although he had some tachycardia, he was in good bodily and mental health and was assessed as Class A. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his older brother as next-of-kin – P. J. Sullivan, Pareora East, Timaru. There among the names of the men in the Canterbury quota for the 34th Reinforcements who left for Trentham on 17 September 1917 was N. J. Sullivan. The draft paraded as usual at the King Edward Barracks at 4 o’clock and after the roll was called they were allowed a few minutes with relatives before inspection. A telegram from the Mayor expressed best wishes for a speedy and safe return. But there is no record that N. J. Sullivan entered camp at that time. He did though go off to camp on 4 March 1918, as one of South Canterbury’s quota for the 39th Reinforcements. Before leaving they were to be given a brief farewell at the Drill Shed. He arrived at camp on 11 March and in June was transferred to Trentham.

All was not rosy, however. On 10 April 1918 at Featherson, he forfeited 9 days’ pay. Then on 29 May 1918 at Trentham, Private N. J. Sullivan (late 38th Reinforcements) absented himself without leave, when under orders for embarkation for Active Service, until he was apprehended by the Military Police at Wellington on 21 June 1918. His intention was to avoid embarkation. He incurred a penalty of 112 days detention and stoppages of pay - £1 2s 11d - for deserting while at Trentham. The sentence was imposed by district court-martial held at Trentham Camp and confirmed by the Commandant, New Zealand Military Forces. He had also lost (by neglect) his equipment, clothing and regimental necessaries. As of 22 June at Trentham he was deficient of jacket, puttees, greatcoat, braces, work shirt, holdall, housewife, 1 each knife, fork, spoon, plate and mug, towel, W.P. sheet, toothbrush, pullthrough, oil bottle and more, all of which amounted to £5.18.7. When the charges were read, he reserved his defence and declined the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses. There was some mitigation to the sentence on 3 July 1918, so that (after embarkation on Active Service) upon arrival at final port of disembarkation the unexpired portion of censure would be remitted.

Thus, it was not until 27 July 1918 that Private Nicholas John Sullivan embarked, departing with the 41st Reinforcements from Wellington for London, England, by the “Willochra”. Disembarking on 4 October 1918, Rifleman Sullivan marched in to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade at Brocton. Suffering from Renal Colic, N. J. Sullivan was admitted to No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital from Sling on 19 June 1919. He was transferred to the Military Hospital at Tidworth on 10 July and discharged to duty on 27 July. The “Ayrshire”, which left Liverpool on 5 August 1919 and berthed at Lyttelton on 20 September 1919, brought home Rifleman N. J. Sullivan, of Timaru. He was discharged on 18 October 1919 in consequence of being no longer physically fit for war service on account of illness contracted on Active Service. Some years later he was awarded the British War Medal.

After the war he engaged in labouring work and lived at home at Springbrook. Then, from late 1935, he lived with his parents in Hassall Street, Timaru, until he relocated to Palmerston North where he lived with his brother Martin and his wife for several years. Lastly, he moved to Nazareth House in Christchurch where he died on 28 February 1971, aged 84 years. After a Requiem Mass at Nazareth House, he was buried in the soldiers’ section of Ruru Lawn Cemetery, his grave marked by a services stone. A war pensioner, he had spent time at Nazareth House in the 1950s then moved back with Martin and Violet. His next-of kin at death was his niece, Mrs Helen Jackson, a daughter of his youngest brother, William. He was the last survivor of his generation. His will, dated 4 March 1964, was handled by the Public Trustee. His estate consisted of £480.00 in his Post Office Savings Bank (Sydenham) and £9.25 Accrued War Pension. His niece, Helen Mary Jackson, of Timaru, provided confirmation of his death. Nicholas bequeathed all clothing, jewellery, watches and other articles of personal wear or adornment to the Leper Trust Board, and the residue of his estate to his nephew, John Leslie Sullivan (son of his late brother Martin Sullivan).

Martin, a brother of Nicholas, enlisted for World War One but did not proceed overseas. Their youngest brother, William Joseph Sullivan, was listed on the Reserve Rolls. Three nephews of Nicholas served 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, Nicholas' ftaher Martin (senior) and Hannah Sullivan had been farewelled in early December 1935 when they were retiring to Timaru. They were clearly 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

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [24 August 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK18805 W5553 0110735) [04 April 2014]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [21 December 2014]; Ruru Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Cemetery Records microfiche) [17 December 2014]; Ruru Cemetery burial records (Christchurch City Council) [22 December 2014]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury & Waimate branches NZSG) [2014]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au); Timaru Herald, 2 March 1971, Timaru Herald, 5 May 1951 (Timaru District Library) [02 February 2015]; various records relating to parents & brothers & families [January-February 2015]; Timaru Herald, 31 December 1907, 2 & 3 January 1908, 21 December 1908, 18 & 28 December 1909, 3, 4 & 8 January 1910, 2 December 1910, 28 November 1911, 20 & 27 December 1911, 2 January 1912, 2 March 1918, 6 July 1934, 4 December 1935, 39 August 1940, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 14 & 21 December 1908, 17, 20 & 29 December 1909, 26 October 1912, Sun, 6 June 1917, Press, 18 September 1917, 24 July 1918, 29 August 1919, Evening Post, 20 July 1918, NZ Times, 22 July 1918, 29 August 1919, Otago Daily Times, 29 August 1919, Sun, 29 August 1919 (Papers Past) [16 December 2014; 01 February 2015; 18 September 1917; 09 September 2022; 30 November 2022; 01 December 2022]; Probate record (Archives NZ) [01 December 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Currently Assigned to

TS