Edmund O’Sullivan was called up in October 1939 to join the 2nd Battalion, London Irish Rifles and he would proudly serve with them for nearly 7 years.
After completing basic training in South London, Edmund was posted as a Rifleman into G Company, then commanded by Major Colin Gibbs, as the London Irish Rifles spent 2 years on home front duties. The battalion would be based right across England and Wales before joining up with the newly created 38 (Irish) Brigade in early 1942 in Scotland as they completed their intensive preparations for overseas front line service.
By November 1942, Edmund had become Company Quarter Master Sergeant of E Company, a most responsible position, the appointment being confirmed on the eve of the battalion’s journey to join the 1st Army in North Africa.
Over the next 2 1/2 years. CQMS O’Sullivan completed the full journey of the Irish Brigade, from their initial arrival in Algiers on 22nd November 1942 to the advance to the Po River that led to the final capitulation of all Axis forces in Italy on 2nd May 1945, apart from a 4 month period in late 1944 when he was hospitalised and had slowly recovered from pneumonia in Alexandria. He re-joined his battalion in December 1944 when they were based in the mountains north of Florence.
After advancing into Austria, the Irish Brigade undertook peace keeping duties in the Carinthia area before spending a relaxing nine months near to Villach. During this period, Edmund was promoted to RQMS and was heavily involved in the eventual disbandment of 2 LIR. On 8th March 1946, he would leave Austria for good to return home to his family.
Some excerpts of his time with the 2 LIR in Tunisia are reproduced below: