PHOTOGRAPH: WILLIAM JOHN RYAN IN FIRST WORLD WAR UNIFORM

« Prev Item Next Item »

c. 1916

Overview

Black and white portrait photograph of Private William John Ryan (service number 1898) looking to the side of the camera. Photograph is printed on a bevelled edge piece of card. The printed side of the card has dried, dirty markings. On the reverse side of the photograph brown paper is stuck to the card (preusmably part of the covering it was originally kept in, similar to 2015.15-17). On the back of the card is written 'Willie Ryan'.

Historical information

Item dates from date of enlistment (photographs most likely taken prior to his departure) and the dates provided in the content details of Ryan's National Archives series.
Private Ryan enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 30 March 1916 at the age of 24. He was assigned to the 34th Infantry Battalion. He was born in Brisbane but lived in 179 Townsend Road Subiaco at the time of his enlistment. He was a gardener. He shipped out on 7 August 1916 from Fremantle onboard the HMAT 'Miltiades' and arrived in England on th 25th of September.
He recieved gunshot wounds to the foot in June 1917 where he was transferred to Cornelia Hospital in Poole to recover. Granted furlough, he returned to France in mid-August 1917, arriving in Havre on 16 August 1917 where he rejoined the 34th Battalion. Ryan was killed in action in Belgium on 2 October 1917. Despite requests from his mother, the exact details of his death could not be ascertained.
He is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No 3, Brandhoek, Flanders, Belgium. His name is recorded on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll as well as the Belmont War Memorial and Victoria Park St Joachim's Catholic Church Honour Board.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-43-2015.114

Item type

Photographs

Material

Paper

Inscriptions and markings

Lafayette Studio, Perth W.A (suspected)

Keywords

World War One

RYAN, William John

Military Associations

Decade - 1910s

Year

c. 1916

Statement of significance

Historic: Ryan was a soldier in the First World War.
Condition: While some of the photographs are not in the best condition, there are multiple and all are intact.
Interpretive: Can be used in any number of collections or displays pertinant to the First World War and those who served, especially from the Subiaco/Perth area.
Representativeness:

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Subiaco Museum

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback