Cornelius James (Con) RYAN

RYAN, Cornelius James

Service Number: WX9091
Enlisted: 25 October 1940
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/9th Field Ambulance
Born: Perth, Western Australia, 1 June 1904
Home Town: Not yet discovered
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Memorials: Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial
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World War 2 Service

25 Oct 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX9091, 2nd/9th Field Ambulance
6 Mar 1946: Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX9091, 2nd/9th Field Ambulance
Date unknown: Involvement WX9091

Help us honour Cornelius James Ryan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Kim Johnson

In October 1941 Con Ryan enlisted in the AIF and entered the 2/9 Field Ambulance as a Driver / Stretcher Bearer.

After training he was sent to Singapore where his Ambulance was caught up in an artillery barrage and destroyed (11/02/1942). He was located a day later in a ditch serioulsy injured and missing a leg. He was taken to Alexandra Hospital and was present when advancing Japanese Imperial Forces stormed the hospital, which resulted in the death of hundreds of patients and medical staff (14/02/1942).

Con Ryan become a Prisoner of War (POW) and entered Changi Prison with thousands of other Allied prisoners. Weak from his injuries Con stated he was kept alive by the selfless actions of other POWs who would sneek out to barter with locals for needed food items.

In 1946 Con returned home to his family in Perth, Western Australia, but like many other returned servicemen, he battled to cope with his physical and phsycological injuires until his death in 1966.  

 

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