Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant P. H. Sulivan, Royal Munster Fusiliers, killed in action on his 20th birthday, in the rear-guard action at Etreux, during the retreat from Mons, 27 August 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (2. Lieut: P. H. Sulivan. R. Muns: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut: P. H. Sulivan); Memorial Plaque (Philip Hamilton Sulivan), reverse privately engraved ‘P.H.S. 2nd. Lieut. Royal Munster Fusiliers, Mayfield, Staffs 27.8.1894 - Etreux 27.8.1914’, the plaque contained in a stylised oak leaf wreath display frame, the medals lacquered, minor markings to plaque, nearly extremely fine (4) £1500-2000

Philip Hamilton Sulivan was born at Mayfield Hall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire on 27 August 1894, the son of Colonel Ernest Frederic Sulivan and his wife Florence. Educated at Malvern College, where he had served in the Malvern College Officers Training Corps, and Sandhurst, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers on 25 February 1914. He served in ‘B’ Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914 and was killed in action on his 20th birthday, 27 August 1914. He was buried by the Germans at the cross-roads at Etruex with eight of his brother officers who fell on the same day and finally laid to rest in Etreux British Cemetery. He is also commemorated on St Peter's, Old Woking War Memorial, Woking; Christ Church War Memorial, Woking; Maybury, St. Pauls War Memorial, Woking; Woking Town Square War Memorial, Woking.

The ‘Last Stand’ of the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers at Etreux was the result of the ‘Munsters’ being ordered to save the 1st Division, to cover the rear-guard of its retreat from Mons, to hold the village of Fesmy and only to retire if ordered or was driven out. For a whole day and more, the battalion stuck to its task, holding up nine German battalions, out-numbering the ‘Munsters’ by 5 to 6 times their strength.

The Story of the Munsters at Etreux, Festubert, Rue de Bois and Hulloch, by Rickard, and The History of the Royal Munster Fusiliers, by McCance, cover the action in detail. The latter refers:
“The action is likely to become the classical example of the performance of its functions by a rear-guard. The Battalion not only held up the attack of a strong hostile force in its original position, thereby securing the unmolested withdrawal of its Division, but in retiring drew on itself the attacks of very superior numbers of the enemy. It was finally cut off at Etreux by five or six times its numbers, but held out for several hours, the remnant only surrendering when their ammunition was practically exhausted and only a small number of men remained unhurt. The survivors were warmly congratulated by the Germans on the fine fight they had made. No other claim to a memorial near Etreux is likely to be advanced-certainly nothing which would not take second place to the Munsters.” (C.T. Atkinson).

The War Diary contains extracts from a letter written on 14 December 1914, by Captain Gower, 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, regarding the action at Etreux:
“…at 11 we were attacked from the East by infantry and guns…at 1p.m. enemy were attacking from North and East, ordered to retire through fields to village (Fesmy), enemy very close, twice got up to one side of hedge, as I left the other with last section…left the village at 3:15p.m. for Oisy…attacked by cavalry…left at 5:15 for Etreux, leaving one company to cover retirement…got about a mile when leading company sniped at…pushed on about 200 yards and came under very accurate artillery cross-fire…ordered to push on…we pushed on to some orchards and a brickfield to a sunken lane near Etreux railway station…held up there. Captains Hall, Barrett, Lieutenants Sulivan, Crozier and self, supported by fire a charge of Jervis’ company…only Jervis and 3 men got to hedge, where taken prisoners…in about three quarters of an hour, Germans attacked from 3 directions…Hall orders retirement to road, Barrett and Crozier killed…when getting into orchard on next road, Sulivan wounded when we got to orchard I went to report to Major Charrier on road – found him by gun, deserted as all team of men were killed or wounded…Charrier killed almost while talking to me, Rawlinson wounded at same time…I had passed Simms dead…found that enemy were attacking from East, South and West…told Hall this and shortly afterwards Hall and I led small charge against one portion of enemy and drove them back…Hall wounded coming back…while we were in lane Charrier had led three charges against loop-holed houses, Wise and Moseley wounded…when Hall was wounded I was left senior…held on hoping to be helped out by brigade and faced men all four ways in orchard…about 8 p.m. those on right of road driven left…tried to find way to break through…fresh enemy coming up from North so surrendered at 9:12 p.m. very little ammunition left and towards West only firing across the road…one side of ditch, enemy in other ditch…I could hear no other firing to show any relief coming and was only losing men and doing no good…also fresh machine-guns getting into position. I surrendered with 3 officers and 256 men…other men tried to get away but 100 more brought in next morning and after nine days there were 444 prisoners…we had exactly 100 wounded and 150 killed, and 9 officers killed and 6 wounded.”

On 29 August 1914, the battalion mustered 5 Officers and 196 men.

For the medals to the recipient’s father and two brothers, see lots 12, 371, and 400.