Mr. O'Sullivan worked for the federal government as a surveyor prior to WW1. I believe they planted the monument dividing Alberta & BC, at Crows Nest Pass.

On one assignment he walked from Edmonton to Peace River, in the winter, using the streams and rivers as roads, with a survey crew. Several of the men went snow mad and walked away from camp, never to be seen again.

At the outbreak of WW1, Mr. O'Sullivan was surveying in Northern Alberta. He used a raft to float his way to Edmonton and then made his way to England to volunteer with the Connaught Rangers. His surveying skills were used extensively as he was in reconnaissance, compiling drawings of behind the enemy lines, at the Battle of the Somme, France. Some of his letters were published in the Connaught Rangers magazine, and used as reference material in the book "Tommy Goes to War." After the Somme, Mr. O'Sullivan went on the Egypt were the fighting was even fiercer.