Dominic Florence O'Sullivan

19-6-1893 – 4-9-1954

by Patrick O’Sullivan

Dominic Florence⁴ O'Sullivan, the son of Patrick O’Sullivan (May, 1848 – 24 December, 1924) and Mary Josephine Cassidy (1861 – 1918), one of six children, was born 19 June 1893 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia #22769, and died 04 September 1954 in Repatriation Mental Hospital, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia - Age 62 #10172. He married Florence Rita Emelia Emmastea Wallis 1919 in Malvern, Victoria, Australia #9527 & 9527R, daughter of George Wallis and Ruth Thompson. She was born 1895 in Collingwood, Victoria, Australia #2614, and died 1931 in Prahran, Victoria, Australia - Age 34 #6705.

Children of Dominic O'Sullivan and Florence Wallis are:

Frances Eileen O'Sullivan, born Abt. 1917; died 1935 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia - Age 18 #4278.

Kathleen “Kay” O'Sullivan, born Aft. 1920.

John Matthew O'Sullivan, born 11 August 1921 in Malvern, Victoria, Australia; died 1980 in Toorak, Victoria, Australia - Age 58 #17698.

Military Records sourced from the National Archives of Australia

He listed a parent or parents as deceased on his WWI applications, though his father didn't die until 30/12/1924 and his mother in 1918, (probably because his father was born in southern Ireland and there is some evidence that his father was anti-British).

He commenced service 26 June 1913 with the Royal Australian Navy, giving his name as Dominic ‘Francis’ O’Sullivan, enlisting for 5 years (Service Number 3162). Description is Height 5 ft 11 3/4 ins, brown hair & blue eyes. Next of kin given as Mother - Mrs Mary O'Sullivan, "Loretto", Bent St, East Malvern, Victoria later changed to 65 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern 25/5/20.

Served on HMAS Cerberus as Ordinary Seaman from 26/6/13 to 15/8/13, (probably for training), and on HMAS Encounter as Ordinary Seaman from 16/8/13 to 3/8/15 and as Able Seaman from 4/8/16 to 7/8/16.

Following the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the Light Cruiser, HMAS Encounter was part of the force which occupied German New Guinea. In the course of these operations she captured the steamer Zambezi on 12 August and, on 14 September, bombarded Toma Ridge to support the Australian Military and Naval Expeditionary Force. She covered the landing at Madang on 24 December.

In October, HMAS Encounter patrolled the Fiji-Samoa area, capturing the German schooner Elfrede. After a refit, she continued patrol duties in the Pacific, landing troops to protect the cable station on Fanning Island in July 1915. After grounding on a coral reef at Johnson Island, HMAS Encounter had to put-in at Hong Kong for repairs. From January 1916, HMAS Encounter patrolled East Indies waters, returning to Australia the next month. She remained in Australian waters for the rest of the war. (This is probably why Dominic transferred to the AIF 6 months later).

File marked "Not to be claimed for further service in the RAN. Joined the AIF. It is so endorsed and forwarded to rating (19/8957)".

(He joined the AIF, under the assumed name of F. Cassidy, a mis-spelling of his mother's maiden name, where he was severely wounded in action on three different occasions between 1917 & 1919 and achieved the rank of Acting Sergeant).

He enlisted in Australian Imperial Force 9/8/16 in Melbourne, Victoria under the name "Francis 'Frank' Casidy", Labourer of Inkerman Rd, Malvern until the end of the war and a further period of four months. His age on enlistment 23 years, 1 month, Roman Catholic, not married, Trade - Labourer. Regimental number 2063, C Company, 39th Battalion. Description - Fair, blue eyes, brown hair, 6ft 1/4ins, Weight 158lbs, Vacs. 3 left arm, Scars both knees, Tattoos forearms, wrists, back & shoulders, Chest measurement 35/38ins. Parents deceased, next of kin given as - Sister - Mollie Doolan, 180 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern, Victoria changed to - Sister - Mrs. M. Doolan c/o Mrs O'Sullivan, "Dulce Domain", Normanby Rd, Caulfield, Victoria on 19/4/17.

Embarked on the Shropshire 25/9/16 from Melbourne, disembarked Plymouth 11/11/16 in 3rd Reinforcement, 39th Battalion.

Proceeded overseas, France 20/12/16 per "Princess Victoria" Folkstone. Taken on strength "C" company, 39th Battalion, 15/1/17, from 3rd Australian Division. Base Depot Etaples. Wounded in action 21/5/17, gun shot wound to the head - contusion & concussion, forehead. Invalided to London General Hospital, England from Wimmeraux 25/5/17. Discharged from Holbain Military Hospital 24/7/17.

Proceeded overseas, France via Southampton 26/7/17. Rejoined battalion 4/8/17, Rouelles, France. To hospital, exhaustion, {Syncope}, St Omer, France 25/9/17. Rejoined battalion from hospital, France 30/9/17. Private appointed Lance Corporal, France, 12/10/17. Lance corporal promoted to Temporary Corporal, France, 17/11/17. Temporary Corporal promoted to Corporal, France, 1/1/18. To 39th General Hospital, 5/2/18, Havre, France. Transferred to Rouelles, France 11/2/18. Rejoined battalion in the field, 2/3/18. To 10th Field Ambulance, sick - scabies 15/3/18. Discharged to duty from 11th Field Hospital 24/3/18. Rejoined battalion in the field, 30/3/18. Wounded in action Rouen, France, 26/4/18, 2nd occassion, gun shot wound to right leg - severe. Invalided to England 5/5/18, embarked "HMS Guildford Castle" 6/5/18. Admitted to Exeter War Hospital, England 8/5/18. Furlough from 17/6/18 to 1/7/18 and report to No 1 Com Depot, Sutton Veng, Longbridge, Dev.

Proceeded overseas, France ex Longbridge, Deveriel via "Folkstone" 22/9/18. Disembarked Rouelles, France 24/9/18. Mustered out to unit 26/9/18. Rejoined 39th Battalion in field 5/10/18. To hospital, gun shot wounds, right wrist, right thigh, Abbeville, France, 10/1/19. Invalided to England 9/2/19. Admitted to Mile End Military Hospital, Bancroft Rd, E1 - Cellulitis, 10/2/19. Discharged 15/2/19 Furlough and report to No 1 Com Depot 1/3/19. Granted extension of leave from 1/3/19 to 9/3/19. Reported to No 2 Com. Depot, Weymouth, 9/3/19. To hospital, sick 11/3/19, Weymouth. Discharged from hospital to No 2 Com. Depot, Weymouth, 19/3/19.

Returned to Australia per "Suevic" embarked 23/7/19, disembarked 10/9/19. Discharged 25/10/19

1914/15 Star, British War Medal #55656, Victory Medal #54349 sent to 1 Regent St, Prahran, Victoria, 24/6/21.

Requested duplicate Returned Soldiers Badge & discharge certificate 12/2/45, made statutory declaration 28/2/45 and received same 11/3/45.

On 11/9/39, Widower Dominic O'Sullivan of 260 Tooronga Rd, South Hawthorne, SE6, aged 46, applied to join the reserve forces, infantry, 39th Battalion at Anzac House. Next of kin was given as brother - Patrick Francis O'Sullivan, 10A Claremont Ave, Malvern. Previous service given as RAN 6/6/13 to 10/11/19 and AIF 10/8/16 to 25/10/19. Highest rank held - RAN, Able Seaman, AIF, Acting Sergeant. Theatre of war in which served - New Guinea 1914, France & Belgium. Specialist appointments, Bomber, Lewis Gunner, Physical Instructor. Occupation - Quarryman. Other skills - Rigging, splicing. Medical classification on enlistment - Class II

Mobilised 9/10/39. Taken on strength 3rd District EMP. Unit Melbourne, 10/1039. Transferred to 12th Garrison Battalion 7/12/39. No V81235, Private Dominic Francis O'Sullivan, 12th Garrison Battalion, Broadmeadows, after serving 88 days, discharged in consequence of:- Considered unfit for the duties of his Corps, 4/1/40, Melbourne, under A.M.R. & O (iv). Description - 46 years old, 6ft 1ins, fair complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair, tattoos chest, right & left arms and back. Handed in issue & received suit civilian clothes.

More About Dominic Florence O'Sullivan:

Burial: 07 September 1954, Brighton Cemetery, Victoria, Australia - Undertaker A.V. Tobin, - Witnesses T. Tobin & G. Walker. Cause of Death: Bronchopneumonia, Medical Information: Cardio vascular degeneration - Dr H.C. Stone

Occupation: 1940, Quarryman