Lieutenant, RNVR
Born: July 25th 1909
Died: November 2nd 1944
Age at Death: 35
Killed, November 2nd 1944
Medals / Honours: MBE and Distinguished Service Cross
John Sulman, known as Jacko, was born on 22 July 1909 to James Sulman and his wife Lilian (née Minnis), from south-west London. After a year at Brighton College, Jacko worked in commerce in London and then Birmingham.
Keen to do his bit when war broke out, he volunteered for the Royal Navy and drove an ambulance while waiting to be called up. He also visited factories, giving workers pep talks to boost morale. During one of these visits he met his future wife, Zillah, known as Bunnie.
In October 1943 Jacko received the Distinguished Service Cross for his duties on minesweepers. On 2 November 1944 he was in charge of the minesweeper Colsay when she was torpedoed off Belgium, killing all but one of the crew. After his death Jacko was awarded an MBE for his bravery and command during a friendly fire incident when he helped pull men from the water. He is commemorated at the Lowestoft Naval Memorial in Suffolk.
Jacko left behind not only his widow and daughter Julia, but also his son John, born two months after his death. After the war Bunnie married Jacko’s younger brother, Hugh (known as Bill), and had three more children: Sarah, Jane and Robert.