Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Captain E. G. Sulivan, East Surrey Regiment, killed in action near Fresnoy, 8 May 1917

British War and Victory Medals (Capt. E. G. Sulivan.) lacquered, nearly extremely fine (2) £100-140

Eugene Gilbert Sulivan was born in Hove, Brighton, Sussex, on 2 June 1893, son of Colonel Ernest Frederic Sulivan and his wife Florence. Educated at Wellington College, Berkshire, and Trinity College, Cambridge, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion East Surrey Regiment on 15 August 1914, promoted Lieutenant on 14 May 1915 and Captain on 16 November 1915. He was posted to the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment on 29 November 1916, joining the Battalion in France on 6 December 1916. At Fresnoy, on 8 May 1917, he was reported missing after the Battalion was involved in heavy fighting. His death was accepted as having occurred on 8 May due to the evidence given by Lieutenant E. A. Weeks, who was made a prisoner of war in the same action. Captain Sulivan is buried in Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-En-Gohelle, France. He is also commemorated in The Roll of Honour, Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge, on St Peter's, Old Woking War Memorial, Woking, Christ Church War Memorial, Woking, Maybury, St. Pauls War Memorial, Woking, and Woking Town Square War Memorial, Woking.

Visiting the Fallen: Arras: North refers:
“He was killed around 6:30p.m. that day, three and a half hours into a bitter fight during which the section of front on his left, held by ‘B’ Company collapsed under a third German assault on the battalion’s positions. Before ‘B’ Company’s position fell, it was Sulivan who realised the seriousness of the situation. He quickly reorganised the left flank of his company, throwing it back under the cover of a counter-attack made against the Germans in Fresnoy Wood. His actions undoubtedly ensured that his own company’s position was not enveloped, at least for the time being, and the counter-attack on the enemy positions in the wood enabled him skilfully to withdraw the remainder of his company into the old German line that skirted the western edge of the wood and village, which was the best available position from which to carry on the fight….Sulivan was soon cut off when the Germans renewed their attack. He died as he and the remainder of his men gallantly lined the parapet and parados of their trench in an attempt to fend off the enemy’s assault from three sides.”

The total casualties were 495 killed, wounded and missing including 11 officers.

Colonel Minogue wrote: “There is ample evidence that the Surreys fought in the most gallant manner, and none more so than your gallant son. It will be some consolation to you to know that all ranks in the battalion admired your gallant son and would follow him anywhere; the service has lost a brilliant young officer.”

For the medals to the recipient’s father and two brothers, see lots 12, 236, and 371.