Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Berks Cemetery Extension | I. A. 15. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.134 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 30A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of Thomas and Margaret Ann Ryan, of 76, Westbourne Park Villas, Paddington, London.Education & Career :
Ryan was a scholar at the Merchant Taylors' School, before becoming a Chartered Accountant.
At school he was a keen and able cricketer, playing in the XI in 1906 and two following years. In 1908 he was second in batting and first in bowling, scoring 245 runs with an average of 22.27 and taking twenty wickets for 25.90 runs apiece.
He was equally adept in the XV, making his mark after school with Middlesex County and had a trial for England.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 18th Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps |
18th (Service) Battalion (Arts & Crafts) Formed at Gidea Park in London by Major Sir Herbert Raphael on 4 June 1915. October 1915 : moved to Witley and attached to 122nd Brigade in 41st Division. Moved to Aldershot in November 1915, on to Witley in February and thence back to Aldershot. 3 May 1916 : landed at Le Havre. November 1917 : moved with the Division to Italy but returned to France in March 1918. |
| Action : Actions in Spring 1916 |
Actions in Spring 1916 covers a number of non specific actions on the Western Front in the period February to the end of June 1916. Much of this period concerned the build up to the Battle of the Somme, particularly the acclimatisation of the Service Battalions (Kitchener Volunteers) to trench routine. As the Battle of the Somme occupied the plans for 1916 no significant efforts were made in other sectors. Many of the casualties could be considered 'routine'. During the period December to June 1916 5845 British soldiers died in 'minor trench operations'.
Detail :
Ploegsteert Sector
The early morning of the 25th dawned relatively quiet until about 11 a.m. when the enemy launched numerous rifle grenades into the British front line. Holding the centre of the latter were "B" Company under the command of Captain John Stanley Ryan and it was this company that faced the full ferocity of this sudden deluge of grenades. Captain Ryan, a prominent Rugby Union player for Middlesex County who had trialled for England, was unfortunately killed along with Company Sergeant Major George William Bulman. Both Bulman, originally a native of Redcar and a married man of Portsmouth and Captain Ryan, now lie in Berks Cemetery Extension not far from where they fell.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Sir Thomas White No. 1820 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
18th January 1912 | 21st March 1912 | 17th October 1912 |
Ryan was a member of his old school lodge, Sir Thomas White Lodge No 1820.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley