PHOTOGRAPH: FULL BODY PHOTOGRAPH OF WILLIAM JOHN RYAN IN FIRST WORLD WAR UNIFORM

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.