The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private G Ryan

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Photograph by "Naturstein"

Private George RYAN, L/10670, 6th  Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died, Flanders France, 4th January 1917, age 18.

Born Silvertown, Essex, son of James Michael and Annie Elizabeth Ryan, of 19, Dace Road, Monier Road, Old Ford, London / 61 Constance Street, Silvertown, London. 

Previously served in 1st Cadet Battalion, Essex Regiment, No.782., from 21st June 1912.

Enlisted 9th February 1915, Woolwich, Kent, age 18, height 5ft 4 inches, weight 110lbs. Formerly labourer in rubber works.

Home, 9th February 1915 to 21st June 1915; BEF, 22nd June 1915 to 4th January 1917.

3rd July 1916, missing; 11th September 1916, on Prisoner of War list, Menden; 4th January 1917, died as a Prisoner of War at Walfrath; 14th February 1917, War Office letter - letter dated 18th January 1917 received from Sergt - Major P Cullinan, Prisoner of War at Friedrichsfeld, notifying the death of No10670, Pte. George Ryan, on 4th January 1917 as a result of an accident.

22nd May 1920, War Office letter detailing report from the German Government - "Pte Ryan was employed as a brakes man on a stone train at a quarry. A train laden with limestone had to be driven from the quarry through the tunnel to the railway junction. The engine was at the end of the train pushing the lorries and Ryan standing on the first and leading lorry, left it as usual, at a small distance from the tunnel in order to remove the brake. In doing so, his foot was presumably caught between the connecting tongue of the switch and the sleeper. There was no witness of the accident, but the Supervisor of this work following the train at a short distance found Pte Ryan dead  about 15 metres from the sleeper between the tracks, his boot being caught between the switch and the sleeper."

Buried at Cologne Southern Cemetery, XVI. B. 55., Germany.