Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Bernard Ryan served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First Service was as a Sergeant rising to Company Sergent-Major S.N. 66, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Regimental Sergeant-Major S.N. 1, 7th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse.

James was serving with the Queensland Defence Force (QDF) before the outbreak of the Boer war as noted in several newspaper reports. The Toowoomba Chronicle, 26 Nov 1896, reported that he was serving with the Darling Downs Mounted Infantry when promoted from Lance-Corporal to Corporal. The Age (Brisbane), 29 Jul 1899, reported that "Mr. J. B. Ryan, late secretary of the Toowoomba branch of the H.A.C.B. Society, who is leaving to take the position of Sergeant Instructor to the newly formed Clifton Mounted Infantry...".

When he enlisted for the Boer war for the first time in 1899 and his details were published with the rank an file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, it was noted he was married and from Clifton (a town 50 km south of Toowoomba). In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 99, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his wife Mrs. J. B. Ryan, Harlaxton, Toowoomba.

Given the original rank of Sergeant, the paybooks also note that within a few weeks of arriving in South Africa he was promoted to Company Sergeant-Major. He served the full tour of the 1st QMI returning to Australia aboard Orient with discharge in Brisbane on 23 Jan 1901. Murray, in his compilation of the AWM Boer War Nominl Roll, notes that James was 'Mentioned in Despatches' in the London Gazette, 18 Sep 1901.

After his return it appears again joined the QDF with The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), 23 Aug 1902, noting that, Sergeant-Major J. B. Ryan was serving as an instructor to the Mounted Infantry force at Rockhmpton, when he recieved orders from the QDF to proceed to Brisbane to take the position of Sergeant-Major in the 7th Battalion Commonwealth Horse to go to South Africa.

When he joined the 7th BACH he noted on his Attestation Paper, dated 18 May 1902, that; he was born at Toowoomba and was 31 years 2 months of age; he was married and a soldier; his N.O.K. was his wife Bridget Ryan, c/- Staff Office Q.D.F., Rockhampton; and that he had previously served with the 1st QMI.

The 7th BACH embarked for South Africa arriving on 22 Jun 1902, after peace had been declared. They embarked to return just a few days later arriving in Brisbane where they were discharged on 9 Aug 1902. It appears he rejoined the QDF with his obituary in The Worker (Brisb), 2 Jun 1952, noting he was part of the instructional staff for the now commonwealth forces rising to the rank of Captain before ill health forced his retirement at the age of 58.

James Bernard Ryan was born on 4 Mar 1870 at Toowoomba, a son to William Ryan and Anne Ryan (nee Kilkeary). Some sources suggest he was born in Ireland, however, when his mother died in 1929 her obituary noted she and her husband were born in Ireland and emigrated separately, meeting and marrying in 1866 in Queensland and settling in the Toowoomba area. The suggestion that he was born in Ireland may be in part due to his name being misspelt as Jajes Ryan on the Qld BDM birth register.

James married Bridget Mary Welsh on 6 Aug 1889 in Queensland and they had 7 children.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 451 and 530; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 99; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossiers 1st and 2nd services; Obitury- The Worker (brisb), 2 Jun 1952, p. 2).