Corporal Thomas J. Sullivan

[Sniper Snoop]

Hi all

Thanks for open this thread. Im looking information about Corporal Thomas J. Sullivan with serial 300450. He belongs to the 13 Battalion Tank Corps and KIA on July 4, 1918. He is buried on the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery on Plot 14, row E, grave 10.

Is there any idea in wich tank he did he service?

Thank you very much.

Grtz Rino

[little bob]

Sorry, I don't have any information about which tank that Thomas was serving when he was killed.

Soldiers Killed in the Great War

Name Thomas James Sullivan.

Rank Acting Lance Corporal

Birthplace Walworth

Enlistment Camberwell Surrey.

Regiment Tank Corps .

Number 300450

Date died 4th July 1918.

How died Killed in Action.

Theatre of War France & Flanders.

Notes Formerly 13273 162nd Howitzer Brigade R.F.A.

Bob

[little bob]

Also killed on 4th July 1918 serving with the 13th Battalion Tank Corps.

Pte., 304427 Albert Victor Billington Formerly 3971 Royal Lancaster Regiment.

Pte., 301630 Frank Gannon Formerly 18176 Army Cyclist Corps.

Lieutenant John Leslie Berry.

Captain Henry Lockhart Larkins Served in R.N.V.R.

Captain Thomas Percival Patterson Walker.

Lt., Berry and Captain Walker were reported to have been killed by enemy "bombing"

Three Mark V tanks were destroyed whilst supporting the Australians on 4th July 1918.

Bob

[delta]

According to the War History, O'Sullivan was killed as a result of enemy aircraft bombing

The tanks were from 11 Section of C Company but the numbers of the tanks are not specified

Stephen

[Sniper Snoop]

Oooh Look thanks! So he belongs to the Charlie Company of the 13 Battalion Tank Corps? Do you know were he died?

[delta]

We seem to be very lucky this evening

The war diary states the rally point was at (map ref) O.13.a

Sadly I don't have a trench map but it looks like it was to the south of the Somme.

[17tankman]

This is the famous cock up - after the battle of Hamel on 4th July 1918 two section commanders and their tanks were parked up in a Gulley to rest. An enemy aeroplane dropped three bombs into the gulley inflicting large losses on those sections. Capt Walker & Larkins and 2nd Lt Berry and Atack and three other ranks were killed. 2nd Lt Hulton and three other ranks were wounded. 2nd Lt Hulton and two of these ranks died following days.

It is thought the plane was attacking the gun emplacement nearby but missed. This caused a big stink as huge loss and the officers were blamed for not protecting themselves properly and a directive was sent out to warn against any more foolhardyness.

In the actual battle of Hamel - Four officers and eight other ranks wounded so you can see what a big disappointment it was after a death free battle that 10 men lost their lives and one wounded.

17tankman