Pair: A Great War 1918 ‘Somme’ M.M. pair awarded to Private P. O’Sullivan, 44th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, for single-handedly capturing a machine-gun, an officer and 20 men, during an attack on Hamel, 4 July 1918
Military Medal, G.V.R. (61 Pte. P. O’Sullivan. 44/Aust: Inf:); British War Medal 1914-20 (61 Pte. P. O’Sullivan 44 Bn. A.I.F.)
M.M. London Gazette 1 October 1918. The original recommendation states:
‘On the 4th July 1918 during the attack on Hamel, this man on reaching the final objective saw an enemy machine gun being mounted for action. He immediately rushed forward, bombed and killed the crew and captured the gun. He then bombed the adjacent dugout and captured an Officer and 20 men. During the whole of this operation this man showed conspicuous bravery and set a very high example of devotion to duty to his comrades.’
P. O’Sullivan was born in Warren Island, County Kerry, Ireland. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 10 January 1916, and embarked for France on H.M.A.T. Suevic, 6 June 1916. O’Sullivan served with the 44th Australian Infantry Battalion as part of the 11th Australian Brigade, 3rd Australian Division in the French theatre of war. He was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in operations on the Somme, in particular during the attack on Hamel, 4 July 1918. During the attack on Hamel, 12 German officers and 350 other ranks were captured, together with 20 machine-guns. O’Sullivan’s battalion suffered 22 other ranks killed, 5 officers and 113 other ranks wounded, and 13 other ranks missing.
O’Sullivan returned to Australia in H.T. Plassy in September 1919, and was discharged 10 December 1919.
Note: The BWM was re-united recently (2018) giving hope that the Victory Medal will eventually turn up
Very fine SOLD
