Sapper Bernard Joseph Ryan

SAPPER BERNARD JOSEPH RYAN

6055 – Tunnelling Details

Bernard Joseph Ryan stated he was born in Canberra, A.C.T. about 1874. His parents were David and Margaret (nee Toohey) Ryan. In 1913 he was a labourer working in Qunaba, Qld.

Deleting a few birthdays the forty-two year old Fireman enlisted at the Central District Central Recruiting Depot in Rockhampton, Qld on May 27, 1916 for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. Attestation Forms were completed and reveal he was 172cms (5ft 7¾ins), weighed 76.4kgs (168lbs) with a chest measurement of 97cms (38ins). Dark was his complexion with brown eyes and brown hair. Eyes tested to good vision in his right eye and very poor in his left eye. A distinctive mark was the internal phalanx of his right thumb was missing but had a good stump and handles a rifle well. Roman Catholic was his religion. Next-of-kin was his sister Mrs Muriel Francis Lynch of Wattle Street, Roselle, Sydney, NSW. Swearing in took place the same day.

Private Ryan began basic training at the 11th Depot Battalion, Enoggera camp, Brisbane, Qld on May 30, 1916 which was completed on August 12, 1916 and before a transfer to the 6th Reinforcements 4th Pioneers Battalion for a further ten days training he was noted to require dental treatment. On August 28 he went to the 7th Reinforcements 4th Pioneers until September 1 when he was taken by the Miners’ Depot (1st Military District) for further training. On September 5, 1916 he signed a Statutory Declaration wanting his occupation to be recorded as a Miner. After Home Leave he was sent to the Miners’ camp at Seymour, Vic for specialised training. He was assigned the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 6055 to December, 1916 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies.

The 516 Reinforcements departed Melbourne, Victoria on October 25, 1916 at 1.30pm aboard the transport HMAT A38 Ulysses. The Australian coastline disappeared from view on October 30, 1916 with the port of Durban reached at 11.30am on November 13, 1916. Windy weather was experienced going around the Cape and arrived at Cape Town at 7am on November 19. Sierra Leone was the next port of call but their departure was delayed until December 14, 1916 as it was not safe to proceed further. Arrived at Plymouth, England on December 28, 1916 after 65 days at sea, with the troops disembarking at 1.30pm and detrained to the station at Tidworth. The next day they marched in to the No. 7 Aust Details camp at Perham Downs for further training for the front.

On January 29, 1917 the Reinforcements departed Folkstone on board the S.S. Onward for France their destination being the Aust General Base Depot at Etaples. The men were also recorded as the 6th Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Company.

Sapper Ryan returned to the A.G.B.D. on February 13, 1917 his records marked as ‘Permanent Base Duty’ and three days later he returned to England arriving at the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth.

While there he went before a medical board on February 24, 1917 and his Statement of Case reads:

Age last birthday:50 years

Occupation:Sleeper chopper

Disability:Overage

Origin of disability:Prior to enlistment

Place of disability:Australia

Essential facts:Sent back from France as useless, only there three weeks

Medical opinion:Senility

Present condition:Age 50. Arterial degeneration & senility

Recommendation:Permanently unfit for general service; temporarily unfit for home service on account of age.

Approved:24/3/17.

Sapper Ryan departed Devonport, Eng on April 6, 1917 on board H.T. A32 Themistocles and his berth for the journey was a hammock. His medical report during the voyage stated his condition had improved. On May 27, 1917 his sister was advised of his impending return but the letter was returned to Base Records on June 26 marked ‘not known’ at the address given. The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on July 4, 1917 and two days later he arrived in Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) and admitted to the 6th Aust. General Hospital at Kangaroo Point for treatment. He went before their medical board who confirmed him medically unfit on August 2 due to overage and he was released from hospital on August 4, 1917 then sent to the Staff Officer for Invalid and Returned Soldiers to await preparations for discharge.

Military Discharge was granted in Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) on August 16, 1917 due to medical unfitness of overage and senility.

Sapper 6055 Bernard Joseph Ryan, 6th Reinforcements Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (59109) and the Victory Medal (57036) for service for his country. The War Medal was returned on March 6, 1923 and the Victory Medal returned on May 10, 1923 and redirected on January 29, 1924 to his sister.

A memo from Department of Social Services on August 26, 1942 requesting the enlistment date and age on enlistment and two days later a reply from Base Records gave the details. On November 2, 1942 he applied for a pension but difficulty was experienced with his age but gave his regimental number 6055 to the Social Services Department. They requested a trace of his enlistment details and the information was forwarded on November 10, 1942.

In 1943 his address was Dunwich, Qld with the occupation of labourer.

There was only one volunteer to the Tunnelling Companies by the name of Bernard Joseph Ryan and research represented by several facts i.e. similarity in his name, a Tunnelling Company is mentioned in the notice, interment in a war grave section and queries about his age suggest this is the same soldier who passed away on June 30, 1947. The following notice appeared in The Courier-Mail on Tuesday July 1, 1947:

His unmarked grave is in Section 82, grave 48 of Anzac Portion 7 in the Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.