George Sullivan

G. Sullivan (also known as George Sullivan) was a trooper in the 2nd Australian Light Horse in the Australian Army. His service number is 1732 and he fought in the First World War, 1914-1918. He was born in Chalmer Queensland, Australia and died in Egypt on the 12 of August 1916 of wounds. He was 18 years old when he embarked on his journey “The Star of England”. He was 19 when he died. He was honour at Kantara War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt. His parents are Annie Eleanor Sullivan and George Sullivan, who were married in 1897 and gave birth to him on 1898; he resided in Golf Street, Chalmer. His religion is the Church of England and his status is single.

George Sullivan’s name on a plague
George Sullivan’s name on a plague

The 2nd Light Horse Regiment was formed as part of the 1st Light Horse Brigade, 1st Contingent and attached to the Australian Division at Enoggera Training Camp to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, on 18 August 1914. Training of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment occurred at Enoggera Training Camp from August until September 1914.
Embarkation of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment occurred by the HMAT A15 Star Of England from Pinkenbar Wharf in Brisbane, Queensland, on 24 September 1914.
The 2nd Light Horse Regiment sailed by convoy from Albany and passed by the action against the Emden at the Cocos Islands. The Star of England disembarked the 2nd Light Horse Regiment in Egypt on 9 December 1914. As mounted troops, the Light Horse was considered to be unsuitable for work in Gallipoli. The mounted troops volunteered to operate as infantry and thus were sent to Gallipoli with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment landing on 12 May 1915. They were used in offensive activities once, which was the attack on a Turkish position opposite Quinn’s outpost. The 2nd Light Horse Regiment was withdrawn from the front line in September and left the peninsula on 18 December 1915. After the return to Egypt, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment reformed and re-equipped. The reorganisation of the Light Horse led to the formation of the ANZAC Mounted Division, which the 2nd Light Horse Regiment became a foundation member. For the first fove months of 1916, between January and May, the 2nd Light Horse regiment was deployed throughout the Nile valley to defend the Egyptian economic centres from the interruption by the Senussi infiltrating the Siwa Oasis. May 14 1916, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment moved to join is parent brigade, the 1st Light Horse Brigade, which was taking part in the defence of the Suez Canal. It was hot and monotonous work, but they remained there until they moved to the Romani region to bolster the defence of that area. The 1st Light Horse Brigade played an important role in beating back the Turkish invasion of the Suez Canal zone at Romani. Known as the battle of Romani, which lasted from the 4th the 6th of August which was quickly followed by the Battle of Katia and then Bir el Abd on 9th August. All the actions which the 2nd Horse Regiment undertook finally led the Defeat of the Ottoman Canal Expeditionary force and it’s retreat to Bir el Mazar. Over the next few months, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment took part in the Allied advance over the Sinai leading to the fall of Bir el Mazar, then El Arish followed by Bir el Magdhaba and finally Rafa in January of 1917.
George Sullivan died from wounds on the 12th August 1916 from wounds. It is thought he was wounded either in the battle at Bir el Abd or in the Allied Advance over the Sinai.

The map of the Battle of Romani

The map of the Battle of Romani

The Battle of Romani lines

The Battle of Romani lines

 

The light horses during the Battle of Romani

The light horses during the Battle of Romani

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