Corporal John Sullivan.
5459 10th Australian Army.
Died of Wounds 19th February 1919, aged 27.
(John’s brother Daniel was gassed and died 13th Sept 1917.)
John was born in the Sept quarter of 1891 in Burnley. The son of Patrick Sullivan and Mary Morton. In the 1901 census the family were living at 13 Pickup Court, Burnley. Patrick 40 a miner, Mary 36 weaver, John 9 and Daniel 3, they were all born in Burnley.
John enlisted in the Australian imperial force on 29 November 1915, in Adelaide, he was posted to “B” Company 2nd Depot Battalion Australian Imperial Force. He was 24 years olds and his occupation was as a musical artist, he gave his next of kin as his mother Mrs Mary Sullivan 7 Stead Street Burnley. He was previously in the East Lancashire Regiment for 4 months and he bought himself out.
He had a few black mark's against his service record for being absent without leave etc., but nothing serious. On the 6th of September 1916 he was promoted acting Sergeant without pay whilst in England. On the 26th of July 1917 he was admitted to Fargo Military Hospital in England suffering from bronchitis. He was sent to France on the 8th of January 1918 having been in England since April 1916. He was taken to hospital in France on the 5th of October 1918 and return to England and he was in hospital at Manchester and died of pneumonia on the 18th of February 1919.
His death certificate dated 18th of February 1990 stated he was 27 years old and he died from bronchial pneumonia. He was accorded a full military funeral, firing party, bugler, and pallbearers in attendance. The Coffin was draped with a Union Jack and conveyed to the graveside, surmounted my several beautiful wreaths sent from :- Miss Delora, cousin Jim, Mr Green, cousins Mary and Agnes and 7 of his mates. The last post was sounded at the graveside and the Last Rites of the Roman Catholic Church were performed by the Rev Joseph Kelly Manchester.
From the Burnley Express dated 22 Feb 1919: BURNLEY COMEDIAN’S DEATH
The death occurred at Manchester, on Tuesday last, from Pneumonia and gas poisoning, of Corpl. John Sullivan, of the Australian Expeditionary Force, whose parents live at 22, Howard-street, Burnley. Deceased, before the war, was a well-known comedian, and under his stage name of “John Erle” appeared at the Empire and other well-known music halls. He was in Australia when war broke out, and in 1915 he joined the Australian Forces, with whom he went to France and took part in a great deal of fighting being gassed last June, a misfortune which has largely contributed to his death. His name is on the Roll of Honour at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Burnley. His brother, Daniel Sullivan, was killed 18 months ago, and another brother, James, is now serving in Italy.
Lived at 22, Howard-street
John was buried at Manchester Southern Cemetery, Manchester, England: Grave Ref; Q.CE.176. Son of Patrick and Mary Sullivan, of 7, Howarth Court, Burnley, Lancs.
(Photograph reproduced with the kind permission of Zapene on Findagrave)
(Photograph reproduced with the kind permission of Nancy Wright on Findagrave)