Eugene Joseph RYAN

RYAN, Eugene Joseph

Service Number: 1043
Enlisted: 12 July 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 32nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Ballan, Victoria, Australia, 1897
Home Town: Wickepin, Wickepin, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farm Labourer
Died: Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916
Cemetery: Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Bethune, Nord Pas de Calais
Plot I, Row L, Grave No. 50
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Wickepin District Roll of Honor, Wickepin District Roll of Honour WWI, Wickepin Fallen Soldiers Memorial
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World War 1 Service

12 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1043, Depot Battalion
18 Nov 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1043, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: ''
18 Nov 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1043, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide
19 Jul 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1043, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix)

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Eugene Joseph Ryan was the youngest of of four brothers who enlisted during WW1. Only one returned to Australia.

Eugene enlisted at barely 18 years of age as an original member of the 32nd Battalion. He stated on his enlistment form that neither of his parents was in Australia, which was not true. He gave his brother, John Ryan, as his next of kin, but John also enlisted during 1915. Eugene arrived in Egypt during late 1915 and was killed in action at Fromelles on 19 July 1916. He was buried at Eaton Hall Cemetery by Reverend F. G. Ward, 20 July 1916. His remains were relocated to the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery at Fleurbaix during 1925.

His brother, 1629 Pte. James Richard Ryan was killed in action at Gallipoli on the 28 June 1916.

An older brother, 5120 Dennis James Ryan 2nd Machine Battalion, was terribly wounded on 11 August 1918, suffering paraplegia from a gunshot wound and died from complications aboard the ship transporting him home on the 9 January 1919. Buried in Sri Lanka.

Another brother 4286 John Ryan 11th Battalion AIF, who was named as next of kin on enlistment, was sent home with debility during July 1917.

The parents were John Joseph Ryan and Annie Clara Ryan.

Over time, it seems the father received all of his medals, memorial plaques etc., in Ballan Victoria, where he had shifted back to in around 1921.

The mother, Annie Clara Ryan in the service file of Eugene Joseph Ryan, was granted 1 pound per fortnight as from 27 July 1917, in addition to the 30 shillings per fortnight 2 August 1917 for James Richard Ryan as above. Her address, Lucknow, via Bairnsdale, Victoria.

She wrote to Base Records many times in the service files of her sons, from Burnie, Avoca and Launceston in Tasmania, and Sale, Bairnsdale and Hawthorn in Victoria.

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