| Place | Oceania: Australia |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/12571 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Gold; Enamel; Pearl; Glass |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | c 1915-1919 |
| Conflict |
Period 1910-1919 Period 1980-1989 First World War, 1914-1918 |
Sweetheart pendant : Private G F Ryan, 25 Battalion, AIF
Description
Gold pendant with a fine 9 carat chain. An enamelled colour patch of 25 Battalion, AIF, is suspended from the chain by a pair of decorative arms encrusted with seed pearls. At the suspender where the two arms join is a single white glass bead. Below the colour patch hangs a small decorated crucifix. The back of the colour patch is engraved 'PTE G.F. Ryan 1898-1921'.
History / Summary
4536 Private George Frederick Ryan gave this pendant to his mother, Eliza A Ryan during his service in the First World War. Born in 1899, Ryan enlisted 29 November 1915, at the age of sixteen, falsifying his age. He served in 25 Battalion, AIF, at Pozieres, Fleurs, Ypres, Bapaume and Bullecourt. He embarked for return to Australia on 8 September 1919. He died in 1921 from nephritis (Bright's disease), contracted in the trenches. This pendant was kept by his family and engraved with his details in 1984, before its donation to the Memorial.