IN THE SERVICEOF THE BRITISH/COMMONWEALT

Benjamin Sullivan, b. Berwick, Me., ca. 1738. Served as an Officer in the Royal Navy aboard a man-o-war. Was lost at sea before the American Revolution. No marriage mentioned in records. Eldest brother of American Major General John
Sullivan.

Rear Admiral Thomas Ball Sulivan (d 1857), had fourteen children; four of his sons were in the British navy. Admiral Sir Bartholomew James Sulivan, eldest son of the foregoing. During the Crimean War in 1854 then-Captain Sulivan, commanding the Lightning, participated in attack on the Russian fortress of Sweaborg in 1855.

 Norton Allen Sulivan, Vice-Admiral, and son of TB Sulivan, took part in the battle of Jutland in 1916.

 John Sullivan, V.C., b. April, 1831, Bantry, County Cork, Ireland. During Crimean War, on 10^th of April, 1855, was awarded Victoria Cross. Was created Knight of the Legion of Honour on the 16^th of June, 1856, by the Emperor of the French. Received Sardinian, Turkish and Crimean Medals, with clasps for Inkermann and Sebastopol. Also recipient of Silver Medal of Royal Humane Society for saving the life of a drowning man in shark infested waters.

Private John Sullivan, 29^th Reg’t of Foot. KIA. Gujrat, 21 Feb 1849, northwest Indian Punjab battle of Anglo-Sikh War.

Gerald Robert O'Sullivan, V.C. - 1915; Gallipoli, Turkey.

Arthur Percy Sullivan , V.C. - 1919; Sheika River, Russia

Admiral George Lydiard Sulivan, another son of Admiral T.B. Sulivan.

Sir Charles Sulivan, Admiral of the Blue. Son of Sir Richard Sullivan, East India Company.

Thomas Hebert, d 1824, son of Colonel John Vera O'Sullivan, served with British and Dutch forces.

Denis Patrick. The Following is part of the letter from The Welch Regiment Museum regarding 25728 Denis Patrick Sullivan 17th and 18th (service) Battalions,The Welsh Regiment ct Medal citations of D.P.Sullivan who was a brave and gallant soldier. His gallantry and leadership at Mory, 23/24 March,1918, was such as to merit a mention in the official history of the regiment. 

The 18th Welsh during four days, surrounded and fighting against great odds, was virtually wiped out. Only the commanding Officer, one officer and twenty other ranks survived to tell the tale, and amongst them was D.P.Sullivan. The remainder died at their posts or were wounded and/or were taken prisoner.

Through their efforts, and the efforts  of others,  the German advance was halted, and thereafter the course of the war turned in our favour. Seargeant Sullivan's decorations for gallantry have often been on display as part of the rotation on display of a large collection of decorations. His other two decorations, the British War and Victory medals were not presented to the regiment.  The citations-

25728 Private Denis Patrick Sullivan, 17th (service)Battalion ,The Welsh Regiment, 1st Glamorgan Bantam Battalion

John O’Sullivan, age 20.  47 Lynsted Road, Liverpool, England. Crew member of Irish-registered City of Limerick, died when the ship was attacked by German aircraft 15 JUL 1940 off the French coast and later sank.

Sullivans in Texas History

Many of the Irish were recruited by the Spanish to come from Ireland to Texas in the 1830s. Ships brought whole villages from Ireland directly to South Texas below Corpus Christi. They settled in San Patricio & Refugio. The poor people didn't know what was in store for them. 

Many died during and after the voyage. The survivors were subjected to the tremendous heat, mosquitoes, poisonous snakes, loneliness, tropical disease and the dreaded hostile Indians. It was a one way ticket. Many survived and eventually moved to Victoria, San Antonio and along the Rio Grande.

The name Sullivan and O'Sullivan occurs very frequently during early Texas history. Cpl. Denis Sullivan name appears before, at and after the Battle of San Jacinto, where Sam Houston and his outnumbered army defeated Santa Ana for Texas Independence. Incidentally, the land that the battle was fought on was owned by the widow McCormick from Ireland.

There were three O'Sullivans from Ireland who fought at the important Battle of Sabine Pass with Dick Dowling and his Irish Davis Guards. Many of the famous Texas Rangers were Sullivan/O'Sullivan. One in particular whose first name was Sullivan, was the famous Sullivan "Sul" Ross. He became governor of Texas and also the first president of the great Texas A & M University.

There is a Cultural Building called the Institute of Texan Cultures in downtown San Antonio (Hemis Fair Plaza ) dedicated to the various groups that settled in Texas. Contact the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Institutes telephone number. I'm sure that they have an 1 ( 800 ) number. You should be able to get the book and/or more information from them.

My First Flight

My First Flight