Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

A turn of phrase that was widely used in Australia during the Great War referred to “doing your bit.” As one young Ballarat soldier remarked, ‘…They say a man does his bit by enlisting. I'm rather in favour of saying that he does his 'big lump'…’ In too many cases, men, like Pat Ryan, pushed themselves further than just doing their ‘bit’ and well beyond expectations.

Born at Smythesdale, 20-kilometres south-west of Ballarat, on 9 March 1883, Patrick Francis Ryan was the fifth child of pioneer farmer, Patrick “Paddy” Ryan, and Ellen Madden. The couple had seven children in total and Patrick was their third surviving son.
The children’s ancestry was entirely Irish – their father was born in Limerick, as was their maternal grandfather, William Madden. The connections to Ballarat and district began with the birth of Ellen Madden, who was born at Smythes Creek.

Young Pat began his education at the Smythesdale State School. He then completed his formal studies at the Christian Brothers’ College in East Melbourne.

After leaving school, Pat began his working life as a clerk in his uncle’s legal management firm, J. P. Madden and Company, of Melbourne. However, in the time leading up to the beginning of the Great War, he had abandoned city life and become a station hand in New South Wales.

After deciding to “do his bit”, Pat presented himself at the Sydney recruiting depot on 18 September 1914. He was sent to Rosebery Park Camp, where his medical examination was carried out by Captain Spencer Dunn the same day. His height and weight, at 5-feet 8-inches and 10-stone 7-pounds, were unremarkable. His chest measurement of 39½ to 42-inches was an indication of considerable upper body strength. The medical officer also noted several distinctive marks, including a scar on his chin from an old bullet wound and the little finger on his left hand, which had previously been broken. His religious faith was recorded as Roman Catholic.

Two notable pieces of information on his enlistment papers was the lack of any military training – being over 30-years-of-age, Pat had fallen outside the compulsory scheme introduced in 1911. And he chose to name his mother as his legal next-of-kin, his father having died some years earlier.

Immediately upon passing the doctor, Pat was assigned as a trooper to the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment; he received training at Rosebery Park, Rosehill Racecourse, and then the large Liverpool Camp on the outskirts of Sydney. Then, on 1 October, he was made provisional corporal with B Squadron.

In late November, the regiment moved to the Holsworthy Camp and remained there until embarkation on 21 December. Detachments from the regiment were spread across various troopships, whilst the main core of the regiment embarked onboard HMAT Suevic from Woolloomooloo Wharf. They cleared Sydney Heads at 3:45pm that day.

After passing through the Suez Canal, the troops finally arrived at Alexandria on 1 February 1915, and, after disembarkation was completed, they immediately entrained for Cairo.

Settling into Maadi Camp, training quickly became the order of the day, and Pat and his fellow lighthorsemen soon became accustomed to the sand – in everything! They were also kept on their toes, with orders coming through at the beginning of March to be ready to embark at short notice.

By this time, Pat had begun to prove his worth to the regiment in a leadership capacity, including controlling the guard on the pumping station and the stationary hospital, performing police duty, and acting as regimental orderly corporal. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant on 5 March.

With the mounting casualties coming out of the Gallipoli Campaign, the Light Horse Regiments were deployed to the peninsula as dismounted infantry. Pat left Alexandria onboard the transport Lutzow at 3:30pm on 16 May. They arrived at Cape Helles just two days later. The following day the regiment landed at ANZAC Cove under shrapnel and sniper fire.

Late in September, when the 6th Light Horse was in the trenches of Lone Pine, Pat Ryan, commanding the regimental bomb throwers under heavy fire, kept the catapults going for 48-hours without a break.

This act of outstanding bravery would result in him being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

He continued to perform in an outstanding manner through to the end of the month, being personally responsible for securing the forward frontline trenches – for this work he would be recognised by General Sir Ian Hamilton with a formal Mention in Despatches on 11 December.

Shortly before being evacuated from Gallipoli, Pat Ryan was transferred to a trench mortar battery and appointed battery sergeant-major. He arrived back in Alexandria with his new unit on 3 January 1916, in time to receive congratulations for the awarding of his Distinguished Conduct Medal.

The month of March was to prove a pivotal time for Pat: on 12 March he was commissioned to the rank of second-lieutenant and transferred to the 2nd Infantry Battalion at Serapeum; then, on 22 March he boarded the transport Ivernia and sailed for France.

In April, he attended Trench Mortar Schools at Renescure (near Hazebrouck) and Berthen (near Bailleul) for instruction before being seconded for duty to a light trench mortar battery stationed at Outtersteene.

Back home in Smythesdale, Pat’s mother received a letter from the Base Records Office, which contained an extract from the London Gazette dated 11/1/1916.
'…His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned Award for distinguished service in the Field, with effect from 1st January 1916, inclusive: Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal No 212 Sergeant P. F. Ryan, 6th Light Horse Regiment. The above has been promulgated in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No44 of 6th April 1916…'

On 11 May, Pat was formally presented with the ribbon for his DCM. Then, on 26 June, he was promoted to full lieutenant. This was followed with a promotion to captain on 16 April 1917, after he had resumed duty with the 2nd Battalion.

Throughout the first half of 1917, Pat spent significant time at various schools of instruction. He was with the 2nd Battalion throughout two weeks of bitter fighting during the Second Battle of Bullecourt (3-17 May), but was able to enjoy leave to the United Kingdom in June. However, immediately upon returning from his break, he was admitted to the 3rd Field Ambulance suffering from acute gastritis. He was transferred to the No8 General Hospital in Rouen on 26 June, where he as admitted suffering an elevated temperature. A contributing factor to his physical decline was revealed to the medical staff – he had been ‘blown up by shell concussion during the fighting at Bullecourt, and had suffered considerable abdominal bruising as a consequence.

Having been diagnosed with what was believed to be a duodenal ulcer, the decision was made to invalid him to England. He embarked on 8 July onboard the Hospital Ship Panama and was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, later the same day.
Pat spent two months at the 3rd London, before being transferred to the 5th Australian Auxiliary Hospital for officers at Welwyn in Hertfordshire.

His medical case sheet revealed that Pat had experienced haematemesis (vomiting blood) after being severely bruised in the upper gastric area by the shell blast. The ‘distinct tenderness over [the] duodenum’ was, in fact, not being caused by an ulcer, but by damage caused by the explosion. He’d not had any previous history of gastro-intestinal problems, but he was now displaying clear signs of internal haemorrhage.

Although Pat continued to slowly improve, he was still experiencing bouts of vomiting and abdominal pain brought on by seemingly simple things like the ‘excitement of watching a cricket match.’ His general weakness appears to have contributed to a fall on 13 September 1917, when he dislocated his left little finger.

Medical notes from 17 September showed that Pat was definitely far from well – he was suffering badly from constipation, and complained of attacks of pain after eating, followed by occasionally vomiting. He was unable to walk more than a few hundred yards, and was not sleeping well.

A Medical Board convened in London three days later concluded that Pat Ryan was permanently unfit for general service due to the strain and stress of military service. He was to be repatriated home to Australia where he could undertake light duties for a period of six months.

In the weeks before his departure onboard the troopship Beltana, Pat spent time at Cobham Hall in Kent as a guest of Lord and Lady Darnley, who had opened up apartments at their stately home to provide respite for wounded and sick officers.

After arriving back in Sydney on 10 December 1917, Pat was subjected to multiple medical examinations. By 5 January 1918, he was feeling ‘perfectly fit,’ and was once again able to eat anything he liked. The doctor at the 4th Australian General Hospital, Randwick, passed him fit and considered '…all this trouble arose after being blown up…'

He was then seen by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir U. L. Maitland on 11 January, who ordered an x-ray – he was happy to pass the young officer fit to return to duty if there was no sign of abnormality.

On 16 January1918, a Medical Board was assembled at 4th Australian General Hospital, and found that, '…he is not suffering from duodenal ulcer and that there is no reason why he should have another attack of haematemesis. He can eat any kind of food without any inconvenience - he has not any pain after meals. The x-Ray report had shown no abnormalities and detected no signs or symptoms of a duodenal ulcer or haemorrhage. It was recommended that Pat Ryan be returned to duty.

The decision was deferred, however, as there were still concerns as to his fitness and a further report was asked for. Despite his apparent return to full health, on the 17 January 1918, his appointment with the AIF was terminated.

Taking advantage of the break from the army, Pat returned to Smythesdale to visit his mother and catch up with other family and friends.

It soon became clear that Pat Ryan was not content that he had done his ‘big lump,’ and was determined to return to the front. He re-enlisted at Sydney on 19 February 1918. His medical, conducted at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, showed that his war service had had a distinct impact on his physicality and his eyesight. Nevertheless, he was passed fit for duty, and went into camp at the Recruit Depot in Liverpool the same day, oddly, as a private. A transfer to the Showgrounds Camp within a few days also coincided with an advancement in rank to acting company sergeant-major with reinforcements to the 1st Infantry Battalion.

At the Kogarah Congregational Church on Tuesday 7 May 1918, Patrick Francis Ryan married Emma Agnes “Dot” Curtis. The ceremony, which was conducted by the Reverend William Touchell, was celebrated quietly and only attended by immediate family members out of respect to Patrick’s brother, Will, who was at the front, and Dot’s brother, Percy, who had returned after being severely wounded at Fromelles on 19 July 1916.

‘…The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a becoming frock of grey silk poplin and ninon and a cream panne velvet hat and white ostrich feather boa. In place of a bouquet she carried the bridegroom's colours, and wore his gift, a diamond ring. Miss May Curtis attended her sister, in a cream costume, and cream velvet hat. She also carried the bridegroom's colors, and wore his gift, a dress ring. Mr. Frank Delaney was best man. Supper was served at the residence of the bride's parents…’

The couple had anticipated spending their honeymoon at the magnificent Barron Falls on the Atherton Tablelands, but Patrick had received orders to embark the very next day, so the trip was cancelled.

Bidding Dot goodbye, Patrick sailed from Sydney with the 3rd General Service Reinforcements onboard RMS Osterley. The Osterley, a passenger ship from the Orient Line, made good time to England and they docked at Liverpool on 10 July. Patrick immediately marched into the 14th Training Battalion at the Codford Camp on Salisbury Plain.

Before being allotted to reinforcements for the 54th Infantry Battalion (although he was destined not to join this unit), Pat was finally restored to commissioned rank on 24 July. He sailed for France via Folkestone, on 20 August. Six days later he rejoined his old unit, the 2nd Battalion, at Morcourt, where the men were resting having just come out of the line at Vaulx-Vraucourt.

On 30 August, Pat was detached for duty with the 1st Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery. He returned to the 2nd Battalion on 16 September; two days later he was dead. According to the commanding officer of the unit, Pat was killed during an attack east of Jeancourt; he was hit in the throat by a small piece of shell, ‘death being instantaneous.’

Corporal William Urquhart, who had gotten to know Pat Ryan well during his time with the 1st LTMB and ‘thought a lot of the captain,’ went looking for the officer’s body. ‘…I went out of my way to find him and came across him lying dead on a hill. I left him after a time…’

Private John French offered more details as to events of that morning in September…

‘…They hopped over about 2-3am. The Capt was killed outright on the tape line when with his [C] Coy just before the hop-over and immediately after the barrage opened. Cpl John PEILE (from Taradale, Victoria) was killed with him. I was with my gun about 60 yards away and saw the shell explode, and when passing along I saw the Capt lying dead on the ground. The Padre of the 2nd Battalion buried the Capt in a Military Cemetery at a place some distance back to which he was taken by the transport. The objectives were captured that day. The Capt was the most popular Officer imaginable and was simply worshipped by his men…’

It was intriguing that, in spite of Pat Ryan only wearing the two pips of a lieutenant, it was clear that all his men saw him with his former rank. There was also the possibility that he had indeed been restored to his full rank, but the paperwork had not gone through official channels.

Captain-Chaplain P. F. Dwyer, attached to the 2nd Battalion, buried Pat’s body in the 1st Australian Divisional Cemetery at Hesbécourt the day after he was killed. He placed a cross over the grave.
Hearing of Pat’s death, a Miss A. Keith, of Sturt Street, Ballarat, wrote to Base Records seeking the address of his widow. '…My reason for writing to know the address of the late…widow is that I may correspond with her. He was a friend of ours, but she is a stranger and we feel owing to her loss we would like to know her…'

There was also an enquiry from the Public Trust Office in Sydney regarding the possibility that Pat had been awarded a ‘French decoration.’ The Trust had been advised of this by ‘one of deceased's brother officers.’
It was the letters from Dot Ryan, however, that showed how difficult it was to process such enormous grief.

‘…I would feel greatly relieved if you would let me know the reason of Headquarters not being able to furnish the name of place a soldier may be killed at. I received citificate (sic) of death of my late husband…stating he was Killed in Action 18th Sept at _____ than in brackets (no record available). Well, that being the case, how do they know he is killed. They must receive information from somewhere, it has made me begin to doubt his death now.

I have shown the citificate (sic) to ______ & they all agree with me that it's strange. Do you think there is any mistake, perhaps he is "Missing or a Prisoner of War," I've felt all along it can't be true & this news makes me feel stronger on the point…

I know through a letter from my husband dated Sept 14th that he was back in his old rank again as Capt & had only been there a few days when his General sent for him & asked him to take command of his old Battery, 1st LTMB. Then on top of that a chum of his, an Anzac on furlough, called to see me & tells me the same thing & I asked him if he had 2 or 3 stars up. His reply was, 'Oh "3". You know he had his old rank again as soon as he joined us & was only with us when he took command of his old Battery…'

On 18 January 1919, Dot wrote to the Commandant of AIF Headquarters in England.

‘…Just 4 months ago I received a cable through the Defence to say my dear husband had been killed in action on September 18th 1918, I've not heard anything further till Saturday last I received a letter from the Defence with copy of certificate of Death, but the mystifying part of it is it said Record of place of death not available, both my father and brother (a returned Anzac) say the same as myself: if they cannot tell me the place he was killed how do they know he is dead. I felt I could rest no longer without making some kind of enquiry from Headquarters London.

First of all, the cable of his death said Lieut P. F. Ryan 2nd Bn Killed in Action 18th Sept. Well, that seemed alright as far as correctness went, but since then I've had three different officers returned invalided and they have called on me and one not knowing the other had told me anything, told me that he had been reinstated in his old rank at Capt.

I might here tell you that Mr Ryan left Sydney with the 6th Light Horse in 1914 as Cpl. He gradually gained promotion in the ranks till he became Capt. Through sickness and being gassed he was invalided home and came home as Adjutant to Col Vaughan on the Beltana.

1917 as you know he was admitted to Randwick Hospital, and was discharged as unfit for further service, however, about a month after he wanted to go back again and he re-enlisted and sailed from these shores as a Pte in May last.

I have received letters from himself telling me he was made Lieut on July 24th and then in letters from France he tells me he was only back with the men when his General sent for him and asked him to take command of his old Battery, 1st LTMB. He goes on to say I was indeed proud to be once again in command of my Battery, so in further address all letters as Capt P. F. RYAN DCM 1st LTMB, etc. I hardly think Mr Ryan and these officers returned would tell me he was once again Capt if he was only Lieut.
Now not knowing the place of death I am in great doubt and nothing but full details from you will convince me that he has really gone to the Great Beyond. Do you think it possible for a mistake to occur? Perhaps only being with the 2nd Bn for only those few days then sent off quickly to the TMB they may have just concluded he had been killed.
The authorities here have only granted me a Lieut's pension, which I think is very hard indeed on me to think he had gone through all he had then to be so brave to enlist again as a Pte to be taken so soon from those he was so dear to is too cruel for words. I would feel greatly indebted to you if you could furnish me with further details, also if you could be the means by any way of me being granted a Capt's pension…£1/15/0 weekly is very small for one who has lost all that is dear to her on earth…'

In reply to her letter, the officer at Base Records stated quite coldly, that ‘it was not army practice to furnish the NOK with place of death and that there was no reason to doubt the accuracy of the report…’
Dot also wrote a number of letters to Base Records regarding her late husband’s decoration – on 10 February 1919, '…Could you please give me any idea at all how long I will have to wait before I will receive the deferred pay & DCM belonging to the late Capt P. F. RYAN…surely his DCM is at hand ere this considering he gained it when only a Sgt in 1915. It is his wife writing & I am very anxious to have this for I will treasure it more than words can tell…'

Then, when she had received no reply, Dot wrote on 2 April 1919, '…I think it's very hard that a widow of a man who done so much for his country is kept so long without his deferred pay, DCM, etc…'

This appears to have finally triggered a response from Base Records, and she was able to provide them with her answer on 19 May regarding the presentation of his Distinguished Conduct Medal.

'…I want no public show, thanks, so kindly post same under Regis. Cover to me to above address. As Thursday next is to be a great day here the arrival of the Aust Fleet & Anzac Day celebrations I would dearly love it to be my day too, the day to receive my dear Hubby's decoration…'

Dot also received a formal letter of recognition.
'…It is with feelings of admiration at the gallantry of a brave Australian soldier who nobly laid down his life in the service of our King and Country, that I am directed by the Honourable the Minister to forward to you, as the next-of-kin of the late Lieutenant…the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to award to that gallant soldier for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty while serving with the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force. I am also to ask you to accept his deep personal sympathy in the loss which, not only you, but the Australian Army has sustained by the death of Lieutenant Ryan, whose magnificent conduct on the field of battle has helped to earn for our Australian soldiers a fame which will endure as long as memory lasts…'

She wrote several letters regarding the return of Pat’s personal effects, including one dated 22 April 1919,
'…[I] do not seem to get any further ahead with things, nor do I become enlightened. A few weeks back they sent me a sealed envelope with rcpts, letters, etc, of no value at all for which I had to sign a slip to say I had received them, while the very things I am anxious to have are held by the Defence. To say the least of it I consider it a consummate cheak (sic) on the Govt's part.

Amongst his belongings is a S. Lum W Watch [silver luminous wristwatch], which I gave him for his birthday & I might say I am very anxious to have same above all other things. I've had a deal of letter writing both in receiving & replying since his death & yet things are at a standstill. I've not received deferred pay, medal (DCM), or anything else. I've lost all that is dear to me on this earth when I lost him & now I seem as though I'm to have my sorrow added to by the dilly dallying about of settling up things…'
When the parcel of effects finally arrived it contained sundry papers, postcards and letters, various shaving items, an aluminium cup and a Sam Browne belt. There was also a damaged wristlet watch, but it is not known if it was the birthday gift from his wife.

There was seemingly no end to the sad reminders for Dot Ryan. On 16 January 1920, she was advised that her husband’s remains had been exhumed and re-buried in Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension.
Then in May 1920, she was forced to relive her earlier concerns.

‘…I am greatly worried through receiving news from an anonymous soldier telling me that my dear husband is not killed, but that he is in an Asylum in England.

I received word to say he was killed in action 18th Sept 1918 from the Military, surely there can be no mistake. I would be greatly relieved if you could find out anything for me. I doubted it myself for some time, for the Military could not tell me where he was killed & that to me seemed strange, but as time has gone on so long now, I have reconciled myself that my dear one has paid the supreme sacrifice & now I have this news.

Will you kindly make no end of enquiries & relieve me of this terrible suspense & uncertainty…’
The reply, when it came, left no room for doubt.

'…I regret to state there appears no reason to doubt the authenticity of the report that your husband…was killed on action on 18/9/18 during the attack East of Jeancourt, and is now buried in Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension 6¾ miles East-North-East of Peronne. As you state you have received advice to the contrary from an anonymous writer no action can be taken in the matter, and you are advised not to foster hopes coming from such unreliable sources. Any statement made by a returned soldier in such an instance should be embodied in the form of a Statutory Declaration and signed by him in the presence of a Justice of the Peace. Where such evidence is forwarded to this office, and if deemed warranted, further investigation is made…'

In 1967, Dot applied for a Gallipoli commemorative medallion. She mentioned in the course her letter that her brother had also been an ANZAC and that he had died from his war injuries at Concord Repatriation Hospital some years earlier.

She had never remarried

"Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Patrick Francis Ryan, 2nd Battalion, of Smythesdale, Vic. A station hand prior to enlisting on 18 September 1914, he first served as a corporal (regimental number 212) with B Squadron, 6th Light Horse Regiment and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Suevic on 21 December 1914. On 5 March 1915 he was promoted to sergeant and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) on 14 January 1916 ‘for conspicuous gallantry during September 1915 in the trenches at Lone Pine (Dardanelles). When he was on one occasion for forty-eight hours continuously in charge of his Regiment bomb-throwers under heavy fire’. He was wounded in action on 26 June 1917 at Bullecourt. On 18 October 1917 he was commissioned as a Captain (Capt) with the 2nd Battalion. Capt Ryan returned to Australia on 18 October 1917.

He re-enlisted on 19 February 1918 as a Private (Pte) and was assigned regimental number 53544 serving with the 3rd (NSW) Reinforcements. He embarked from Sydney aboard RMS Osterley on 8 May 1918. Pte Ryan was killed in action on 18 September 1918 in France whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, aged 35 years." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

Born in Smythesdale Victoria, Patrick Ryan had his commission terminated after his return to Australia in October 1917 on medical grounds (duodenal ulcer). He re-enlisted in February 1918 and cited his address as Kogarah, New South Wales (an inner-southern suburb of Sydney).  He was appointed acting Company Sergeant Major on the "Osterly" for the journey to Europe.  He was re-appointed to the rank of Lieutenant with the 54th Battalion, before being transferred to the 2nd Battalion shortly after his return to France in July 1918. He was detached to the 1st Light Trench Mortar Battery for about one month before returning to the Battalion in early September.  He was killed in action on the 18th September.