John Ryan
Lance-Corporal, 65th Regiment
- Register No.
- 1094 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Private) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 65th Regiment (register: 65th Regiment of Foot) all 65th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 September 1863 on this day → all of 1863 →
- Conflict / campaign
- New Zealand Wars
- London Gazette
- 16th January 1864 on this day → all of 1864 →
- Born
- in 1839 at Barnsleigh, Tipperary, Ireland
- Memorial / grave
- Buried in an unmarked grave in Alexandra Redoubt Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand
- Medal held by
- the York and Lancaster Museum, Rotherham,
Digest of citation
On the 7th September, 1863, Lance-Corporal Ryan, along with Privates Bulford and Talbot, all three of the 65th Regiment, went and removed the body of the late Captain Smith, from the field of action, after he had been mortally wounded, and afterwards remaining with it all night in a bush, being surrounded by the enemy
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RYAN, John. (reg No. 1094).
Lance-Corporal. 65th Regiment. * London Gazetted on 16th January 1864.
VC Medal's Custodian is the York and Lancaster Museum, Rotherham, Yorkshire.
Born in 1839 at Barnsleigh, Tipperary, Ireland. Drowned on 29th December 1863, whilst attempting to effect the rescue of a comrade at, Tukuan, New Zealand.
Buried in an unmarked grave in Alexandra Redoubt Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand.
Digest of Citation reads: On the 7th September, 1863, Lance-Corporal Ryan, along with Privates Bulford and Talbot, all three of the 65th Regiment, went and removed the body of the late Captain Smith, from the field of action, after he had been mortally wounded, and afterwards remaining with it all night in a bush, being surrounded by the enemy.
* York and Lancaster Regiment.
Additional information:. No. 261 Lance-Corporal John Ryan was drowned trying to rescue a comrade near Tukuan, New Zealand. His two colleagues, Private Bulford and Private Talbot were awarded the DCM. Lance-Corporal Ryan's Victoria Cross was sold for £58 on 17th April 1902 in London.
Additional information
No. 261 Lance-Corporal John Ryan was drowned trying to rescue a comrade near Tukuan, New Zealand. His two colleagues, Private Bulford and Private Talbot were awarded the DCM. Lance-Corporal Ryan's Victoria Cross was sold for £58 on 17th April 1902 in London.
* York and Lancaster Regiment.
Yorkshire.
Drowned on 29th December 1863, whilst attempting to effect the
rescue of a comrade at, Tukuan, New Zealand.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Buried in an unmarked grave in Alexandra Redoubt Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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