John Ryan
Private, 1st Madras Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 1092 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 1st Madras Fusiliers (register: 1st Madras European Fusiliers) all 1st Madras European Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 26 September 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 18th June 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- in 1823 at Kilkenny, Ireland
- Died
- 4th March 1858 at Cawnpore, India
- Memorial / grave
- at to British Cemetery, Cawnpore, India
- Medal held by
- the National Army Museum, Chelsea, London
Digest of citation
On the 26 September 1857, rebels Sepoys besieged a party in a house in Lucknow, India. Private Ryan along with a Private McManus (reg No. 806) , of the 5th Regiment, dashed into the street, brought Captain Arnold from a dhooly* and took him into the house, all the time under heavy fire which caused Captain Arnold to be wounded again. Private Ryan distinguished himself throughout the day by devoting himself to the rescue of the wounded, in the vicinity, and prevent their being massacred. He examined every dhooly to ensure that it was empty
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RYAN, John. (reg No. 1092).
Private. 1st Madras Fusiliers. * London Gazetted on 18th June 1858.
VC Medal's Custodian is the National Army Museum, Chelsea, London.
Born in 1823 at Kilkenny, Ireland.
Died on 4th March 1858 at Cawnpore, India.
Memorial on grave at to British Cemetery, Cawnpore, India.
Digest of Citation reads: On the 26 September 1857, rebels Sepoys besieged a party in a house in Lucknow, India. Private Ryan along with a Private McManus (reg No. 806) , of the 5th Regiment, dashed into the street, brought Captain Arnold from a dhooly* and took him into the house, all the time under heavy fire which caused Captain Arnold to be wounded again. Private Ryan distinguished himself throughout the day by devoting himself to the rescue of the wounded, in the vicinity, and prevent their being massacred. He examined every dhooly to ensure that it was empty.
* 102nd Foot, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
* A covered litter .
* 102nd Foot, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
* A covered litter .
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at to British Cemetery, Cawnpore, India
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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