Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

27/05/1916

Date of Discharge

16/08/1917

Place of Enlistment

Rockhampton, Queensland

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

19/07/1876

Place of Birth

Canberra

Address (at enlistment)

Bundaberg, Queensland (previously Canberra ACT)

School(s) Attended

St. John's School, Canberra

Occupation

Fireman/ miner

Next of Kin

Mrs. Muriel Lynch (sister), Rozelle NSW

Service Number

6055

Final Rank

Sapper

Final Unit

Tunnelling Company AIF

Bernard Ryan came from Canberra but was living in Queensland when he enlisted giving his occupation as 'fireman' and providing a declaration stating that he had followed the calling of a miner. He was divorced (he had married in 1901), giving an address in Sydney and although he was missing his right thumb, the medical examiner stated that "it was a good stump and that he handles a rifle well". Ryan embarked in October 1916 and arrived in France in January 1917 as a Sapper with the 6th reinforcements, Tunnelling Company. However, the following month he was sent back to England and invalided back to Australia in May 1917 for discharge because he was "overage". A medical report gave his age as 50 and that he had arterial degeneration and senility. He was discharged on 16 August 1917 in Melbourne.

Description - height 5 feet 7¾ inches, weight 168 pounds, chest 38 inches, dark complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, Catholic, right thumb missing but the medical examiner stated that it was a good stump and that he handled a rifle well.

NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)
AWM First World War Unit Embarkation Rolls
Students roll, Schoolhouse Museum, St John's, Reid
Valerie Bofinger, 'Ryan: from Moycarkey, Tipperary to Mulligans Flat NSW' (p.49), 1999
Monaro Pioneers Index - http://www.monaropioneers.com/pioneers.htm