RYAN, Joseph Ernest
| Service Number: | 4576 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 58th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rosebery, Victoria, Australia, 17 June 1895 |
| Home Town: | Beulah, Yarriambiack, Victoria |
| Schooling: | State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier Row N, Grave No. 4 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Beulah Memorial Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4576, Depot Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4576, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4576, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4576, 58th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4576 awm_unit: 58th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
Help us honour Joseph Ernest Ryan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Joseph Ernest Ryan and his brother, Edward John Ryan, enlisted together in the AIF on during July 1915. They gave their father J P Ryan of Rosebery, Victoria as next of kin.
Joseph only landed in France in late June 1916 and by the 19 July 1916 was listed among the missing at the Battle of Fromelles. He was not confirmed as killed in action until September 1917, despite the fact that his brother Edward was sure he was dead.
Joseph's mother was granted a pension of 2 pound per fortnight. On 1 August 1917, in response to a Base Records request for any info regarding Joseph, his mother advised that she had no definite information regarding her missing son. "His brother searched the field the next morning but found nothing. A returned stretcher bearer that knew him well says he carried wounded for days after and never came across him".
During February 1923, Joseph Ryan’s remains were discovered by exhumation parties of the Commonwealth War Graves and identified by pieces of his groundsheet. The groundsheet was marked ‘4576 PTE. J.E. RYAN C. Coy.11th Platoon’.
Base Records advised his parents on 5 July 1923 that Joseph's new burial place was at "Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois Grenier, 3 miles south of Armentieres".
On 15 Sep 1923 Joseph's father was sent two pieces of ground sheet "recovered from the body during re-burial at Y Farm Military Cemetery". Forwarded as "possible sentimental interest on account of their former intimate association with the late soldier".
His brother 4579 Pte. Edward John Ryan, 57th Battalion AIF, who also fought at Fromelles, was later killed in action in Belgium on the 25 September 1917. Another brother, 6070 James Thomas Ryan 38th Battalion returned to Australia in 1919.
Click images to start slideshow.