Captain Gerald Robert O'Sullivan

Regiment: 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Panel reference: Panel 97 to 101.
Date published: 24/09/1915
Killed in action: Yes
Date of death: 21/08/1915
Age at death: 26
Cemetery: Helles Memorial, Turkey
Information: Captain Gerald Robert O'Sullivan V.C., 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was killed in action on August 21st, during the attack on Hill 70, or Burnt Hill, at Suvla Bay. He advanced at the head of his men to the second line of Turkish trenches, where he fell. Captain O'Sullivan was the son of the late Lieutenant-Colonel George Lidnill O'Sullivan, and of Mrs. O'Sullivan, Rowan House, Dorchester. He passed into Sandhurst in 1907, and was gazetted to his regiment, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, on May 15, 1909. Captain O'Sullivan was awarded the V.C. for conspicuous gallantry on two occasions at the Dardanelles on June 18th-19th and July 1st-2nd. The official record of his deeds is as follows :—“For most conspicuous bravery during operations southwest of Krithia, on the Gallipoli Peninsula. On the night of July 1st- 2nd, 1915, Captain O'Sullivan, although not belonging to the troops at this point, volunteered to lead a party of bomb-throwers to effect the recapture. He advanced in the open under a very heavy fire and got up on the parapet, where he was exposed to the fire of the enemy occupying the trench. He was finally wounded which led his party to recapture the trench. On the night of June 18th-19th, 1915, Captain O'Sullivan saved a critical Situation in the same locality by his great personal gallantry and good leading.”