Three: Captain C. E. E. Sullivan, Uganda Intelligence Department, and Assistant District Commissioner during the Lamogi Rebellion, 1911-12, and the Kigezi Operations, 1914-16. During the latter, accompanied by only 20 policemen, Sullivan repeatedly saw off an invading force of approximately 1,200 tribesmen, who had crossed over the border from German East Africa

1914-15 Star (Lieut. C. E. E. Sullivan. Uganda I.D.); British War and Victory Medals (T. Capt. C. E. E. Sullivan.) generally very fine, rare to unit (3) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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Dix Noonan Webb, September 2015.

Charles Eric Eugene Sullivan was born in Plymouth, Devon in 1883. He was appointed Assistant District Commissioner, Uganda Protectorate in November 1909. Sullivan briefly served in this capacity in Kampala, before transferring to Hoima in May 1910. After this he was appointed Assistant District Commissioner for Gulu and Kigezi, and was in situ during The Lamogi Rebellion of 1911-12, and the Kigezi Operations of 1914-16. Both of which are extensively covered in The Uganda Journal, frequently featuring Sullivan and his part:

‘In February 1911 the Lamogi declared themselves openly defiant to Government orders, and in July 1911 they refused to comply with the order then issued for the registration of firearms, of which they had a good number. “We will not be disarmed. If any man wants to disarm us, he must first take our lives before he does that”. Mr Sullivan, the then Assistant District Commissioner at Gulu, visited Lamogi in September 1911. Mr Sullivan tried to effect the registration. He failed, was fired at and returned fire but was unable to take the necessary action to round up these people. Between September and the end of the year the Lamogi were determined on their intention to fight if need be. They held war dances in the various villages, fortified the Guruguru Hills and stocked them with food.

On 26 December 1911, the A.D.C. at Gulu wrote the following letter to the District Commissioner, Nile, at Nimule: “The people of Guruguru have again stated that they refuse to bring in their guns, and that all the Lamogi wish to fight. I trust that you will be able to arrange to tackle these people during the coming full moon, say January 8. This infection appears to be spreading through southern portion of this district. I can only raise 25 police here. Can you arrange for 40 to come from Nimule and the Wadelai Patrol to meet me on my way through the Madi country?” Following Mr Sullivan’s visit in September, the unrest among the Lamogi was working itself to a climax.

However, the time most propitious for the government had come and in January and February 1912 the long waited preparation was ready. It was the dry season and the weather was most auspicious for dealing with the Lamogi. On January 17 Mr Sullivan and the Gulu police arrived at Guruguru. An attempt was made to parlay and reason with the Lamogi people, but without any success. On the 18th Mr Sullivan moved back for about three hours in the hope of getting in touch with the Rwot Onung of Lamogi. Onung, however, declined to co-operate with him. Mr Sullivan was fired at by the chief’s men, but he acted very quickly with his police. He tried to round up the chief and counsellors and make an arrest, but he failed. The chief and all his men escaped. Mr Sullivan then set the chief’s village on fire for all his pains.

On 29 February 1912 the people managed to prevail on Onung and he finally gave up and asked for peace. Between 29 February and 1 March 1,070 prisoners were taken including 413 fighting men, also 79 guns and 200 bows and arrows. Police casualties amounted to two killed and eight wounded, and eight porters wounded. The official figure stated that the Lamogi lost 91 killed in action.’

In August 1914, Sullivan was made a temporary captain and district intelligence officer in the Uganda Intelligence Department:

‘At the beginning of the war in 1914, the duty of keeping open communications between ourselves and the Belgians in the Congo fell on the police stationed in Kigezi. The Assistant District Commissioner in charge of Kigezi, C. E. E. Sullivan showed resource and courage in confronting the unrest with the help of such police as were available.

On the morning of 10 October whilst Lieutenant Sullivan was talking to some natives pointing out that their attitude in following him from hill to hill, blowing horns and shouting abuse, could hardly be expected from a friendly people, and demanding an explanation for this act, an arrow was fired at him from close by. At the same time a Mututsi on a hill top shouted out, “This is now German territory, and Nyindo will fight”. This was the signal for blasts on war horns, and some hundreds of natives rushed forward firing arrows; as Lieutenant Sullivan had only six police with him he withdrew, keeping the attackers at 200 yards distance, shooting at anyone who came nearer. On reaching the plain an ugly rush forward was made, and as the arrows were coming thick, he fired two volleys, this enabled him to get away, though the Batwa hung about on his flank shooting arrows.

While this was in progress large bodies of natives between 1,000 and 1,500 strong crossed from Mulera, German East African, and came close to Kigezi, but on seeing the hill occupied, withdrew to Nyindo’s boma. Lieutenant Sullivan estimates that he was attacked by at least 300 men.

On 11th at about 6am these raiders from German East Africa over 1,200 strong, advanced towards Kigezi in several columns and began setting fire to Musakamba’s village below Kigezi, about 1,500 yards from the camp, where they killed three people and wounded others. The war cry seemed to be Nyindo and the Germans against Musakamba and the English. Lieutenant Sullivan accompanied by Mr Harmsworth and 20 police descended the hill, first clearing the Kigezi plain of raiders who were all driven towards the Batwa returning again and again to attack, firing arrows from every bit of cover; as large reinforcements came up to assist the attackers. Lieutenant Sullivan ordered volleys at 200 yards after which they retired over the border. Owing to instructions Lieutenant Sullivan was unable to follow them. These raiders had literally to be forced back, it took over three hours to drive them across the frontier.

Had Lieutenant Sullivan not been at Kigezi, our loyal natives would have been slaughtered, all their food burnt and stock captured.’ (Ibid)

Sullivan was appointed Provincial Commissioner in 1928, and retired two years later. He died in Tangiers in December 1951.

Sold with copied research.