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Note: Military records sourced from National Archives of Australia. Photocopies scanned Benjamin Patrick O'Sullivan applied for enlistment as an Airman in the R.A.A.F. 2nd Feb, 1944 to be a trainee tech. in refrigeration & electrical, citing qualifications as 2yrs Turning & Fitting and completing 8th grade. He gave his address as 24 Carnavon Rd., Caulfield after crossing out 10A Claremont Ave, Malvern. He underwent a medical on the 4th Feb, 1944 and his description was - Height 64 3/4ins, Chest 32 normal, 36 expanded, Weight 120lbs, Vision 6-6, Complexion Medium, Eyes Brown, Hair Medium, Scar L Thigh, Religous Denomination R.C. On the 5th Feb, 1944 he obtained permission to enlist as per National Security (Man Power) Regulations as his employer was a protected undertaking. On the 7th Feb, 1944 he was advised by letter that since he was under 21yo and needed his parents consent and a permission slip was attached. On the 12th Feb, 1944 it was noted that advice was received that he had signed his father's name to the parents consent slip and that the father would take action if enlisted. Permission must have been eventually obtained as on th 28th Feb, 1944 the R.A.A.F. checked with the police for any criminal record. Official No 147640, Serial No K64432, LAC Benjamin Patrick O'Sullivan of 24 Carnarvon Rd, Caulfield, was enlisted 28/2/44 in RAAF aged 18. Occupation in civilian life - Fitter & Turner, Specialised Eng. Works. Single with next of kin given as - Friend, J.R. Buckingham, 18 Forest Rd, Hobart, Tasmania, changed from Father - Patrick Francis O'Sullivan, 10A Claremont Ave, Malvern. He signed his father's name to application to enlist and had to re-apply. Description - 5ft 4 3/4ins, 120lb, Chest 32/36ins, medium complexion, brown eyes, med. hair, R.C., scar on left thigh. Recruit drill - 5/3/44 to 27/3/44, passed course No 395 Flight Rigger 31/7/44 to 21/10/44 with 65.83% score. On 1/12/44 he was fined one day's pay for absenting himself without leave for 5 hours & 15 minutes from 0800 hours to 1415 hours on 29/11/44 and punished with four days C.B. He was mustered on 28 feb,1944 - Trainee Technical, re-mustered 22/10/44 as Flight Rigger then re-mustered 1/10/45 (back dated to 1/6/45) as Refrigeration Mechanic. He was made L.A.C on 22/2/45 and reclassed A.C.1. on 1/10/45. He was hospitalised 31/12/44 to 5/1/45. Awarded War Medal 1939/45. He was discharged 2nd April, 1946, granted 55 days pay in lieu of leave and gave his address as 312 Riversdale Rd, Hawthorn East. On 2nd Mar 1946, he made a Statutory Declaration that he embarked at Darwin on 5/1/46 for Labuan(?) and disembarked at Sydney on 17/3/46 after serving 2 1/2 months continuous overseas service. END OF SERVICE RECORDS - SEE SCANNED FILES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT.
Patrick Michael O'Sullivan's memories. Ben was almost exactly 30 years older than me, being a product (along with Frank) of our father's first marriage to Eliza Agnes Matthews, so my earliest memories of him start when he was in is early 30's. He and his family lived at 17 Johnstone St., Malvern, SE4, Victoria. I remember a few occasions, when I was very young, when he visited us at 1 Claremont Ave., Malvern, SE4. A trick he used to entertain me with was to blow cigarette smoke rings from his ears. I remember one Christmas when both he and Frank bought me a cricket set each as presents (obviously they didn't mention to each other what they were getting me). I must've been about 6 or 7 years old. It was a sunny day and we set up one of the sets in than laneway across the road. With me batting, they took turns bowling gently to me until I went for a six and promptly snapped the handle of the bat at the shoulder of the blade. Well not to worry, there was another bat in the other set... a couple of balls later, I did the same to the other bat.. After Christmas Dad took me to a sports store and bought me an Indian made, willow cricket bat. When I was about 9 or 10 years old, Dad bought the weatherboard house at 17 Johnstone St and Ben and his family moved to Kyabram, Victoria. I visited them a few times after Dad died and remember the dairy farm, playing the pianola, going on fishing trips, putting golf around the house and playing with Michael, Timothy & Sue. After a while we lost touch and I didn't see him again until Frank's funeral. Again we lost touch and, by the time he died, I hadn't seen him for about 20 years.
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