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Chronology
- Edward John Francis Ryan, VC Compiled from Australian National Archive Dossiers |
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9 February
1890
Date of birth; Place of birth - Tumut,
New South Wales; Religion - Roman Catholic. 29 November
1915 John Ryan signed the enlistment form. 30 November
1915 Certificate of attesting officer. 1 December
1915 Certificate of Commanding Officer,
Ryan appointed to B Coy Goulburn. Place of enlistment - Wagga Wagga, New South Wales; Occupation
– Labourer; Address - Tumut, New South Wales; Marital status – Single; Age at embarkation – 25;
Height - 5' 7"; Weight - 154 lbs; Next of kin - Mother, Mrs
Eugenie Ryan, Tumut, New South Wales; Previous military service - Nil; Rank
on enlistment - Private; Unit name -
55th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement. 14 April 1916 Regimental number – 1717, AWM
Embarkation Roll number - 23/72/3;
Embarkation details - Unit embarked
from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic; Rank from Nominal Roll -
Private, Unit from Nominal Roll - 55th Battalion. 20 April 1916 Family/military connection - Cousin:
2835A Pte David John RICHARDS, 9th Bn, killed in action. 16 May 1916 Egypt, Western Front disembarked H.T. Ceramic at Port Said. 26 July 1916 Found guilty of being absent from Muster
Parade: forfeited 10 days' pay. 29 July 1916 Embarked at Alexandria on board HT 'Arcadian'. 9 August 1916 Disembarked Southampton, England, via Marseilles. 28 August 1916 Found guilty of being late on parade awarded
forfeiture of 7 days' pay. 9 September
1916 Proceeded overseas to France. 23 September 1916 Taken on strength from, 2/55th
Bn. to 55th Bn. France. 8 January 1917 Detached to 1st Anzac Light
Railways as a fettler. 12 June 1917 Rejoined Bn from detachment with light
railways. 3 July 1917 Whilst on active service overstaying
leave pass from 8 pm, 2 July, until reporting for duty at 3.30 pm, 3 July
1917 14 July 1917 Found guilty of overstaying leave
pass: awarded 4 days' field punishment No 2 by O/C and forfeiture of 2 days'
pay; total forfeiture of 6 days' pay (£1.10.0). 28 September
1917 To Leave. 4 October 1917 Whilst returning from leave admitted
to VD.C. Boulogne. 6 October 1917 Transferred to 39th General Hospital
Havre. 11 November
1917 Discharged to duty from VD.C. after 39
days. 17 November
1917 March out to Unit. 22 November
1917 Rejoined sick in the field. 9 June 1918 Absent without leave 8.30 am 7th
June to 5pm 9th June. 15 June 1918 Seven days field punishment - total
forfeiture of 10 days pay. 30 September
1918 Wounded in action, (gunshot wound, right
shoulder), and admitted to 32nd Field Ambulance; transferred same day to 12th
Casualty Clearing Station, and thence by Ambulance Train. 2 October 1918 Admitted No 20 to 34th General Hospital, Trouville. 10 October
1918 Recommendation date for Victoria
Cross:- 'For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during an attack
against the Hindenburg defences on 30th September 1918. In the initial
assault on the enemy's positions Private Ryan went forward with great dash
and determination, and was one of the first to reach the enemy trench. His
exceptional skill and daring inspired his comrades, and, despite heavy fire,
the hostile garrison was soon overcome and the trench occupied. The enemy
then counter attacked, and succeeded in establishing a bombing party in the
rear of the position. Under fire from front and rear, the position was
critical, and necessitated prompt action. Quickly appreciating the situation,
he organized and led the men near him with bomb and bayonet against the enemy
bombers, finally reaching the position with only three men. By skilful
bayonet work, his small party succeeded in killing the first three Germans on
the enemy's flank, then, moving along the embarkment, Private Ryan alone
rushed the remainder with bombs. He fell wounded after he had driven back the
enemy, who suffered heavily as they retired across "No Man's Land".
A particularly dangerous situation had been saved by this gallant soldier,
whose example of determination bravery and initiative was an inspiration to
all.' 25 October
1918 Transferred to No 1 Convalescent Depot,
Havre. 15 November
1918 Discharged to Australian General Base
Depot, Havre. 7 December
1918 Rejoined Bn. 17 December
1918 On leave to United Kingdom. 26 December
1918 London Gazette published Ryan being
awarded a VC. 9 January 1919 Rejoined Bn. from UK leave. 16 April 1919 Proceeded to England for return to
Australia. 17 April 1919 Disembarked Southampton, and marched
in to No 5 Group, Weymouth. 30 May 1919 Base records office wrote to Mrs E
Ryan of Russell Street, Tumut, relating the conspicuous service rendered by
her son. 3 June 1919 Admitted to 1st
Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford. 8 June 1919 Discharged from hospital to C.T.D.
Parkhouse. 5 July 1919 Failed to appear at place of parade at
1400. 16 July 1919 Failed
to appear at place of parade at 1000. 30 July 1919 – District Court Martial held at
Tidworth. Charges:- 1: Failing to appear at place of
parade at 1400, 15 July; 2. Failing to appear at place of
parade at 1000, 16 July; 3. Disobeying a lawful command; 4. Using insubordinate language. Pleaded guilty to 1 & 4 but not
guilty to 2 & 3. Finding Guilty of all charges.
Forfeiture of 1 day's pay. 4 August 1919 GOC confirmed finding (except 2nd
charge) Marched in to No 1 Group, Sutton Veny. 18 August 1919 The Officer i/c Base Records replied
to Mr. Arthur Woods of the Royal Hotel, Harden, NSW that he has no record of
where J. Ryan VC is but anticipates he will be shortly returning to
Australia. (Arthur had written after a picture of Ryan VC had appeared in the
Sunday Sun newspaper.) 6 September
1919 Returned to Australia. 7 September
1919 Commenced return to Australia from
Devonport on board HT 'Eripides'. 4 October 1919 Admitted to ship's hospital at sea. 24 October
1919 Disembarked Sydney. 10 January
1920 Discharged with Victoria Cross,
British War Medal & Victory Medal. |
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29 April 1929 Ryan sought relief from the Mudgee Anzac
and Armistice Association who sought verification of his claim.
2
May 1929 Base Record office
replied to the Mudgee Anzac and Armistice Association giving the details of
Ryan (height, eye colour, etc). 29
October 1929 The Tumut and Adelong Times reported “Tumut V.C. is Jobless - Forgotten Gallantry of John Ryan, a Homeless
Tramp”. 16 July 1934 John Ryan wrote a Statutory
Declaration from Yarrawonga to the Army stating he had lost his discharge
papers in a Hotel in Moree. The hotel was soon afterwards destroyed by fire. 30 July 1934 The Yarrawonga Branch of the RS&S
Imperial League of Australia sought confirmation of Ryan’s Statutory
Declaration. 16 August 1935 Melbourne
Age
reported,: 'V.C. Winner Carries Swag: On the Road for Four Years. Mildura:
Carrying a swag, John Ryan, a private in the 55th Battalion, walked into an
office in Mildura today [Thursday] and asked for work. He had
"hitch-hiked" from Balranald. He had been on the road for the past
four years.' |
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17 January
1940 Re-enlisted in the Australian Army in
Melbourne. Taken on strength as Medically Class
II, aged 49. His mother (Eugenie Ryan) was listed
as next of kin & living at North Yass. His Unit was the District Employment Unit
(Q.M. Stores). He was to be employed as a Clerk in Trade Group III. 21st
March
1940 Charged with drunkenness. 25th
March 1940 Found guilty and fined 10/-. 18th April
1940 Discharged from the army as being
unfit for the duties of his Corps. |
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3 June 1941 Died at age 51, Place of burial -
Springvale Cemetery (Catholic Section), Melbourne, Victoria. 17 September
1969 Mr. F.M. Archer (Honorary Secretary of
the Tumut RSL) wrote to Central Army Records asking for a copy of John Ryan’s
VC citation. 30 September
1969 Central Army records replied to Tumut
RSL. 3 March 1972 Mr. F.M. Archer (Honorary Secretary of
the Tumut RSL) wrote to Central Army Records asking which other medals John
Ryan was entitled to (to go with the replica VC the Tumut RSL already has). 28 March 1972 Central Army Records Office replied to
Tumut RSL. |