China 1900, 2 clasps, Taku Forts, Relief of Pekin (J. Sullivan, P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Aurora) good very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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John Sullivan was born in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland, on 30 December 1864 and prior to joining the Royal Navy he worked as a farm servant. He entered the service as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. IMPREGNABLE on 21 January 1880, and advanced to Boy 1st Class on 9 March 1881. He joined NORTHUMBERLAND (September 1881) and was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 2 December 1882, ROYAL ADELAIDE (November 1883), ALEXANDRA (December 1883), CRUISER (April 1884), and ALEXANDRA (December 1884) being advanced to Able Seaman on 15 December 1884. He subsequently served aboard ROYAL ADELAIDE (March 1886), CAMBRIDGE (May 1886), DEFIANCE (February 1887), CAMBRIDGE (July 1887), AGAMEMNON (November 1887), and CAMBRIDGE (December 1887). On being advanced to Leading Seaman 16 September 1891, he then served aboard DEFIANCE (September 1891), VIVID I (January 1892), ANSON (May 1892), BELLEISLE (October 1892), and VIVID I (February 1893). Whilst aboard the latter ship he was advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 10 May 1893 and served next aboard HAWKE (May 1893), VIVID I (December 1894), CAMBRIDGE (January 1895), DEFIANCE (February 1895), VIVID I (April 1895), and EMPRESS OF INDIA (May 1895). Advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class on 1 September 1895 he joined MAGNIFICENT (December 1895), VIVID I (January 1898), DEFIANCE (March 1898), CAMBRIDGE (April 1898), THUNDERER (August 1898), VIVID I (October 1898) and AURORA (February 1899).

Whilst in AURORA he was landed for service with the Naval Brigade in China and fought in the actions at Tientsin, Taku Forts and the first Relief of Pekin. He served next aboard VIVID I (April 1902), AEOLUS (September 1902), DEFIANCE (May 1903), VIVID I (September 1903), CAMBRIDGE (October 1903), DEVONSHIRE (October 1905), VIVID I (November 1905), CAESAR (December 1905) and VIVID I (March 1907). He was invalided ashore suffering from paralysis on 7 May 1907 with nearly 25 years adult service. On a number of occasions his conduct and character assessments were rated as only ‘fair or ‘good’, the last being aboard CAMBRIDGE in 1895, and in consequence he was never awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal.