Joseph Ernest Ryan

Joseph Ernest Ryan and his brother, Edward John Ryan, enlisted together in the AIF on during July 1915.  They gave their father J P Ryan of Rosebery, Victoria as next of kin.  

Joseph only landed in France in late June 1916 and by the 19 July 1916 was listed among the missing at the Battle of Fromelles. He was not confirmed as killed in action until September 1917, despite the fact that his brother Edward was sure he was dead.

Joseph's mother was granted a pension of 2 pound per fortnight. On 1 August 1917, in response to a Base Records request for any info regarding Joseph, his mother advised that she had no definite information regarding her missing son. "His brother searched the field the next morning but found nothing. A returned stretcher bearer that knew him well says he carried wounded for days after and never came across him".

During February 1923, Joseph Ryan’s remains were discovered by exhumation parties of the Commonwealth War Graves and identified by pieces of his groundsheet. The groundsheet was marked ‘4576 PTE. J.E. RYAN C. Coy.11th Platoon’.

Base Records advised his parents on 5 July 1923 that Joseph's new burial place was at "Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois Grenier, 3 miles south of Armentieres".

On 15 Sep 1923 Joseph's father was sent two pieces of ground sheet "recovered from the body during re-burial at Y Farm Military Cemetery".   Forwarded as "possible sentimental interest on account of their former intimate association with the late soldier".

His brother 4579 Pte. Edward John Ryan, 57th Battalion AIF, who also fought at Fromelles, was later killed in action in Belgium on the 25 September 1917. Another brother, 6070 James Thomas Ryan 38th Battalion returned to Australia in 1919.