RYAN, Dennis James
| Service Number: | 5120 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 October 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Ballan, Victoria, Australia, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Wickepin, Wickepin, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Ballan State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Ceylon, 9 January 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Colombo (Kanatte) General Cemetery, Sri Lanka Roman Catholic. I. 15 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Wickepin District Roll of Honor, Wickepin District Roll of Honour WWI, Wickepin Fallen Soldiers Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 5120, 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 1915: | Involvement Driver, 5120, 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Chilka embarkation_ship_number: A51 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Feb 1915: | Embarked Driver, 5120, 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train, HMAT Chilka, Melbourne | |
| 9 Jan 1919: | Involvement Private, 5120, 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5120 awm_unit: 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1919-01-09 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Dennis James Ryan was born in Ballan, Victoria, and enlisted in 1914, with the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train. He served briefly on Gallipoli with the 12th AASC until evacuated sick to Egypt 5 December 1915. He landed in France during June 1916, and transferred to the 22nd MG Coy during October 1917. He was wounded on 11 August 1918, a gunshot swound to his back, penetrating his chest. The bullet caused paralysis and left a septic wound. He was returning to Australia (departed England 13 December 1918), but died at sea, basically from blood poisoning and the wound to his spine, and was buried soon after in Colombo.
He was one of four brothers who served during WW1, and only one survived.
His brother, 1629 Pte. James Richard Ryan was killed in action at Gallipoli on the 28 June 1916.
His youngest brother, 1043 Eugene Joseph Ryan, 32nd Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Fromelles, 19 July 1916.
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; however, Dennis gave his brother, 4286 Pte. John Ryan as his next of kin.
Most of the family were living at Wickepin in Western Australia when they enlisted, though all of the brothers were born in Ballan, Victoria. The father had returned to Ballan in Victoria by 1921 and no trace of the mother could be found by 1919. Dennis’s medals and awards seemed to have gone to his father. His personal effects were sent to his surviving brother in Perth but were lost in the system.
It was reported in the Casino and Kyogle Courier on the 29 November 1919 that, “A woman answering to the name of Annie Clara Ryan, aged 50 years, who arrived at
Glen Innes by train from Tamworth last Friday, was found dead in her bed at the Royal Hotel, Glen Innes, on Saturday afternoon. Death appeared to have resulted from natural causes. The evidence at the inquiry showed that deceased had been engaged as a cook, and that she was the widow of a late bank manager at Kalgoorlie.”
It is not known whether this was the mother of the four Ryan boys, but it is known that she was married to John Joseph Ryan, who did manage some hotels in Kalgoorlie prior to the war.