James Richard RYAN

RYAN, James Richard

Service Number: 1629
Enlisted: 23 November 1914, Enlisted at Helena Vale, WA
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 11th Infantry Battalion
Born: Ballan , Victoria, Australia, 1891
Home Town: Wickepin, Wickepin, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Sleeper Hewer
Died: Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 28 June 1915
Cemetery: Shell Green Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula
Plot 11, Row G, Grave 17 Chaplain J.C. McPhee officiated, Shell Green Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey
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

23 Nov 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1629, 11th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Helena Vale, WA
22 Feb 1915: Involvement Private, 1629, 11th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Itonus embarkation_ship_number: A50 public_note: ''
22 Feb 1915: Embarked Private, 1629, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Itonus, Fremantle

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Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of John Joseph Ryan of Wickepin, WA and Annie Clara Ryan of Burnie, Tasmania

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

James Richard Ryan, known as Dick, was born in Ballan Victoria. His family seemed to have moved to Wickepin in Western Australia probably 7 or 8 years prior to WW1. He enlisted in November 1914 with the 11th Battalion, aged 24 years 3 months.

He gave his father, John Joseph Ryan of Wickepin, Western Australia, as his next of kin.

James Richard Ryan was one of four brothers who enlisted, and only one survived the war.

His youngest brother, 1043 Eugene Joseph Ryan, 32nd Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Fromelles, 19 July 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.

Another brother 4286 John Ryan 11th Battalion AIF, was sent home with debility during July 1917.

James Richard Ryan appears to have been killed in action during a feint made by the 11th Battalion on 28 June 1915, when they attacked Turkish trenches near Silt Spur on Gallipoli, in support of an Allied offensive down near Cape Helles. Well over 20 men lost their lives and most are buried in the Shell Green Cemetery.

James Richard Ryan’s mother, Annie Clara Ryan, for unknown reasons had moved to Queenstown in Tasmania during 1914.

A solicitor, T.J. Crisp wrote to Base Records wrote to Base Records from Burnie Tasmania, regarding Mrs. A.C. Ryan, which was received on 20 October 1915.

“The position seems to be this, Mrs. Ryan, formally of Queenstown, now in Burnie, has had a letter from her son, Driver DJ Ryan 3rd Light Horse Train, in which he states his brother Dick was killed in action on the 28th June. The Dick referred to is James Richard Ryan who enlisted in Western Australia and who’s Military Number was we believe 1629. We regret we cannot give further particulars.

As Mrs. Ryan is in somewhat needy circumstances at present it is a matter of great importance to her that she should receive speedily anything to which she may be entitled to in respect to the death of her son whether by pension or otherwise (deferred pay) and should be much obliged if you could at once supply us with official information as to death and also advise what steps Mrs. Ryan should take in the matter.”

Only two days later the following article appeared in the North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Tasmania Friday 22 October 1915.

A WOMAN'S PLIGHT, 'FIVE SONS KILLED.' CHARGE OF: DRUNKENNESS'

On the charge of being drunk and incapable of taking care of herself, Clara Annie Ryan appeared at the Burnie Police Court yesterday morning before Messrs. Sanderson and Wiseman, J.P.s,

Constable Betton said at 5.20 on Wednesday evening he found the defendant in a very drunken condition lying on the verandah of the Court House. She was unable to stand up. Sergeant Hynes said he felt that a severe reprimand from, the bench would meet the case. Mrs. Ryan arrived in Burnie some 5 weeks ago, with the tale that she had five sons killed in the Dardanelles. She was trying to arouse sympathy and get some monetary assistance. She did get a certain amount of help. From the West Coast she was given a free passage to Burnie. She then went to Waratah and remained there for some time. She returned to Burnie, visited Ulverstone, and again came back to Burnie. There might be something in her story of her sons being at the front, but it was evident that she was endeavoring to get the money, for the purpose of buying the thing which had caused her to be in her position. If she didn't look after herself, she would have to be dealt with under another section, and cleared out of the district. If it was a genuine case, it was one to be sympathized with, but under the circumstances one was inclined to form a bad impression, and Burnie did not want inebriated women about the town.

Mr. Sanderson: What have you to say, madam?

The defendant: I tried to get to Melbourne on Wednesday, and that was the cause of the trouble. I thought I would have been given a passage to Melbourne. I have had one boy killed and have had a letter of condolence from West Australia.

Mr. Sanderson : That is no excuse.

Defendant: I have been in bad health for some time. I had been having little to eat and, getting little sleep. The spirit I took, therefore, was too much for me.

Mr. Sanderson: People have sympathized with you and if you have lost your sons, you are to be sympathized with, but if you are brought here again you will have to be severely dealt with. You are discharged this time.

Mrs. Ryan: Can any assistance be given to help me?

Mr. Sanderson : The proper place to apply is to the military authorities. If your sons have been lost- you are entitled to a pension which is paid to relatives. This court cannot do it. Sergeant Hynes: It appears that the sons were single, and if the woman is the next of kin something is radically wrong when provision is not made for her.

As the woman left the court Mr. Sanderson warned her to avoid reappearance."

Annie wrote to base records a fortnight later, from “Benham”, Avoca, Tasmania,

“I would esteem it a favour if any more of my sons should be killed or wounded on active service to immediately communicate with me to the above address. All my sons enlisted in West Australia. Also, I would like to know if I could claim J.R. Ryan’s money. His father is touring in England and has not claimed the money neither has he given me or my children any support for five years.”

Base records replied to both letters, making it clear to Mrs. Ryan that the father John Joseph Ryan as next of kin was entitled to receive any deferred pay, medals, entitlements and personal effects.

Mrs. Annie Clara Ryan was awarded a pension (undated) of 40 shillings per fortnight backdated to 29 June 1915. At this stage she was living at 34 Hill St. Hawthorn, Victoria.

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