Studio portrait of Private (Pte) John Ryan VC, 55th Battalion. Pte Ryan was awarded the Victoria ...

Accession Number P02939.047
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white, Portrait
Physical description Black & white, Portrait
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Studio portrait of Private (Pte) John Ryan VC, 55th Battalion. Pte Ryan was awarded the Victoria Cross for "most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty" on 30 September 1918 in France. During an attack Pte Ryan dashed forward and was one of the first to reach the enemy trenches, helping to overcome and occupy the trench. As the enemy counter attacked with a bombing party, Pte Ryan organised and led the men near him to attack the enemy party killing three Germans, he then rushed the remainder of the enemy on his own, being wounded as he drove the enemy back across No Man's Land. He returned to Australia in September 1919 and was discharged on 10 January 1920. He died of pneumonia on 3 June 1941.