He was a labourer who lived at 32 Boundary Street, Waverley. Pte A. PALMER, 'I knew Ryan ... I last saw him at Fleurbaix. We went "over" about 6.30 on 19th July, 1916. Ryan was quite near me and I saw him hit by a bullet fired by a sniper. He was hit in the right eye. …. He was not knocked down, and when I last saw him, he was hit in the right eye. …. He was not knocked down, and when I last saw him, he was making back to our lines. We continued on to the second line of German trenches. We retired to our trenches the next day -- the 20th. ….. I expected to see Ryan back in our trenches.'
Pte J.L. BULL 19 October 1917: 'On July 19th 1916 he was in the front trenches at Fleurbaix with us. Late in the night of the 19th I saw him lying in the trench suffering from concussion. He could not speak. We went over and returned to the same trench early the next morning. The Stretcher bearers had removed Ryan.'