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 |
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 |
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Add my storyBiography 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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