Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Tirah’ D.C.M. pair awarded to Private E. Sullivan, Royal West Surrey Regiment, who was severely wounded at Colenso, 15 December 1899

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Pte. E. Sullivan. R:W: Surr: R.) suspension post reaffixed; India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (3070 Pte. E. Sullivan 1st. Bn. Ryl. W. Surr Regt.) suspension slack on last, very fine (2) £4000-5000

Provenance: Spink, December 1984.

D.C.M. Recommendation submitted to the Queen 9 July 1898 (Army Order 135 of 1898).

Of the three D.C.M.’s awarded to the Regiment for the Tirah Campaign, Rudolph records 2338 Colour Sergeant W. Wallis and 3070 Private C. [sic] Sullivan’s acts of gallantry as ‘Storming a Sangar’.

The History of the Second Queen’s now the Royal West Surrey Regiment by Davis offers the following:

‘The weather now began to show signs of breaking, and there were many indications that the winter season with its heavy snows was rapidly approaching; it had therefore become evident that unless the troops were to spend the winter in the severe Tirah climate, it would shortly become necessary for them to return to India. Consequently, on 25th November [1897], the heavy luggage baggage was despatched to Shinawari. At the same time it was felt that before withdrawal a punitive expedition should visit the Massuzai and Chamkanni Valleys, the inhabitants of which had been at various times actively concerned in forays into British territory; and the latter, an especially truculent tribe of robbers, had recently ambushed and destroyed a strong patrol of the Kapurthala Imperial Service Regiment, when on reconnoitring duty from the Kurram Valley. The task was confided to General Gaselee, who, with a force consisting mainly of the 2nd Brigade, was directed to carry out the necessary operations in conjunction with the Kurram Valley column, whilst the remainder of the troops awaited the result of the negotiations at Bagh.

The passes leading from Tirah to these valleys being unknown, but reported to be very difficult, it was arranged that in order to facilitate supply, General Gaselee’s force should march in two bodies, at an interval of one day’s march. On 26th the leading column moved off at 6.30am in a westerly direction, accompanied by Sir W. Lockhart and the Headquarter’s Staff, 4 companies of the Queen’s, with the Ghurkha Scouts, forming the advanced guard, the remainder of the Battalion being at the head of the main body. Shortly after leaving the camp the troops were fired on, and a running fight ensued until about 3pm, when they bivouacked at the entrance of the Losaka Pass.

During the course of this engagement, a smart action was performed by Lieutenant H. A. Engledue, which gained the unstinted praise of General Gaselee, who witnessed the incident. On being detailed with about 20 men to drive a party of Afridis from a sangar on the crest of a ridge, whence they were harassing the column, this Officer wisely divided his force into two parts, directing half to keep up a heavy covering fire to distract the enemy’s attention, whilst he skilfully led the remainder by some dead ground against a flank of the sanger. In consequence of these tactics the Afridis, who were expecting a frontal attack, were completely surprised, and Lieutenant Engledue succeeded in killing 2, wounding several, and capturing 3 or 4 rifles, the latter a great achievement, with the loss of but one man killed.’

Edward Sullivan was born in Islington, London, and attested for the Royal West Surrey Regiment (having served previously with the 3rd Battalion East Surrey Regiment) at Guildford, in June 1890. He was convicted several times for drunkeness in the years prior to service with the 1st Battalion in India.

After distinguishing himself during the Tirah Campaign, Sullivan transferred to the Army Reserve in March 1898. He re-engaged for service with the 2nd Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment for service during the Second Boer War. He served with the Battalion in South Africa, October 1899 - April 1900, and was severely wounded at Colenso, 15 December 1899. He was discharged ‘Medically Unfit’ in October the following year.

Sullivan re-engaged for a second time, this time with the 4th Battalion, The Buffs, for service during the Great War. He served at Home, 1915-1916, before being discharged ‘Medically Unfit’ in May 1916. In later life he resided in Northfleet, Kent, before his death in a London County Council Institution in Mile End, London, in 1948.