HOME LIFE

William Patrick Ryan was born on 4^th April 1896 in Dunbible, son of Patrick Polding Ryan and Jane Rebecca (Cooper) Ryan. He was one of 6 children, with 3 brothers & 2 sisters.

William’s father appears to have been a miner, a shepherd and a farmer at various times, and the family moved from place to place. They had lived at Tingha, Tenterfield, Wallangarra, Lismore, and Murwillumbah in New South Wales, but also at Coombabah in Queensland. After William’s birth in 1896, there seems to have been more stability in that the family continued to live in the Murwillumbah area with a further three children born after William’s arrival. In total, William had seven older and three younger siblings who survived to adulthood. Many of his family are buried in Murwillumbah cemetery

William is recorded as being a labourer and it is likely that he worked on his parent’s farm at Upper Crystal Creek. In 1908 Patrick Polding Ryan took up a Conditional Purchase of two portions of land totalling 297 acres at Upper Crystal Creek. The land stands in the foothills of Mt. Cougal, just across the border in Queensland. The Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat is located nearby today.

When the Ryans acquired their farm, William would have been 14 years of age. Living in a rainforest area, there can be little doubt that he felt the sunshine and the rain regularly. He would have experienced the dawn across the farm as well as the evening sunsets while labouring, and he would have had experience with farm animals from an early age and listened to the birds in the trees and the sky above.

Four of the Ryan brothers answered that call – Ned, Maurice, Daniel and William.

William’s elder brother Edward (Ned) Mahoney Ryan [1894-1971] was the first to go. He enlisted in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment on 7 January 1915 and went on to serve at Gallipoli, in Egypt, and in defence of the Suez Canal and other actions. Edward returned to Australia on 19 April 1919.

Another brother, Maurice, enlisted on 2 October 1916 in the 49th Battalion. However, ill health en route to war service meant that he returned home medically unfit in 1917. He had suffered meningitis, rheumatic fever and related heart issues spending some months in South African hospitals before being well enough to be sent home. Maurice [1891-1958] was deemed eligible for a part pension only for a short period and went on to work for the New South Wales Railway Department.

ATTESTATION

William travelled to Brisbane on 20^th July 1915 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in Dunbible, a suburb of Murwillumbah, was, 19 years and 3 months old and a single man. He gave his occupation as labourer. His next of kin was his father, P.P. Ryan, of Upper Crystal Creek and he had previous military experience T.A 12 infantry. The Territorial Army was part of the British Army’s part-time volunteer reserve force (similar in concept to militia service). Men trained in their local units—usually evenings, weekends, and annual camps—before the war.

He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia

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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER

On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following

“The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him

OATH

He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, William Polding Ryan,  swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law

SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

His medical showed he was 5ft 5 inches tall (1.65m), weighed 138 lbs (62kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & brown hair.  His eyesight was good.  William was Roman Catholic and had a scar on his back

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION

I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -

Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.

He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

This is completed during the recruits training.

He certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. I accordingly approve, and appoint him to 31^st Battalion, 1^st reinforcements with service No 1520

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months

The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

VACCINATIONS

While at the training camp he received three vaccinations - calf lymph, & 2 anti- typhoid inoculations

VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM MELBOURNE TO EGYPT

Some of the 31^st Battalion companies, however, were also raised at Broadmeadows Camp in Victoria. In early October, these two elements were united at Broadmeadows, and on 5^th November 1915 they all embarked on the HMAT A41 Bakara. Alongside his comrades, William marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.

The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.

Sleeping & Living Arrangements

Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.

Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.

Daily Routine

Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic, drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.

Meals

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.

Health & Sanitation

Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.

The Voyage Experience

Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. To keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.

The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection

CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY

The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played out on each troopship.

SIGHTS AT SEA

On the way to Egypt the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.

SECURITY

By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes.

APPROACHING EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Egypt. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead. They disembarked on 7^th December 1915.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH DECEMBER 1915

William entered the war with more experience than many of the men around him, and it did not take long for that to show. When William disembarked in Egypt on 7 December 1915, the great training camps along the Suez Canal were already alive with activity, filled with newly arrived reinforcements preparing for the next stage of the war. Just five days later, on 12 December, he was taken on strength with his battalion at Serapeum, one of the key camps positioned along this vital waterway.

APPOINTED LANCE CORPORAL DECEMBER 1915

That same day, William’s prior knowledge of soldiering and his evident capability were recognised with his appointment as a Lance Corporal. Such an immediate promotion was no accident. It reflected a man who could be relied upon to steady others—someone who understood drill, discipline, and the expectations of military life, and who could step into responsibility without hesitation. In the busy, often chaotic environment of the Egyptian camps, where fresh drafts of men needed to be shaped quickly into effective soldiers, men like William were invaluable.

Life at Serapeum was a mixture of routine and urgency. The days were filled with route marches across the sand, musketry practice, physical training, and endless drills under the harsh Egyptian sun. The men were being hardened for the conditions they would soon face elsewhere, and as a Lance Corporal, William stood at the forefront of this process—guiding, correcting, and encouraging those under his charge. He would have been responsible for small groups of men, ensuring they kept pace, maintained discipline, and absorbed the training that might one day save their lives.

PROMOTION TO CORPORAL MAY 1916

Over the following months, William’s steady leadership did not go unnoticed. On 3 May 1916, he was promoted to Corporal, a further step that confirmed his growing authority and the confidence his superiors placed in him. By then, he would have taken on greater responsibilities—perhaps overseeing a section, maintaining order within the ranks, and acting as a vital link between the officers and the men. His role demanded not only competence, but also judgement and reliability, particularly as the battalion prepared for active service.

In this early phase of his war, William’s path was one of quiet advancement, shaped by hard work and proven ability. From his arrival in Egypt to his promotion as a Corporal, he emerged as a dependable non-commissioned officer—one of those steady figures upon whom the effectiveness of the battalion so often depended.

When William joined the 31st Battalion at Serapeum in December 1915, he was stepping into a unit that was still very much in its formative stage. The 31st Battalion, raised in Queensland and Victoria, had only recently come together in Egypt after leaving Australia, and much of its early existence was devoted to turning a collection of enthusiastic recruits into a cohesive fighting force.

The camp at Serapeum, set along the Suez Canal, was strategically important. The Canal was the lifeline of the British Empire, and its defence remained a priority, particularly after earlier Ottoman attacks in 1915. While William and his comrades were training, they were also part of this defensive screen—ready to respond if the Canal was threatened again. This added a sense of purpose to their routine, even if much of their time was spent in preparation rather than combat.

Training during this period was intensive and increasingly sophisticated. The lessons of the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign were still fresh, and the army was determined not to repeat its mistakes. The 31st Battalion underwent long route marches across the desert to build endurance, extensive musketry practice to improve marksmanship, and field exercises designed to teach men how to move, dig in, and fight as a coordinated unit. There was a growing emphasis on discipline, unit cohesion, and the responsibilities of non-commissioned officers—men like William, who were expected to translate orders into action on the ground.

By early 1916, the battalion became part of the newly formed 8th Brigade within the 5th Australian Division. This reorganisation was significant, marking the transition from a loosely assembled force into a structured and deployable division ready for service on the Western Front. Training intensified further as the battalion prepared for movement to Europe, where a very different kind of war awaited them.

Life in Egypt was not without its hardships. The heat, dust, and flies were constant irritations, and the monotony of training could be wearing. Yet there were also periods of leave in nearby towns such as Ismailia or even Cairo, offering brief respite from the routine. Throughout it all, the battalion was steadily moulded into an effective unit.

It was in this environment that William’s abilities came to the fore. His promotion to Lance Corporal upon joining, and then to Corporal in May 1916, aligned perfectly with the battalion’s growing need for capable leaders as it prepared to leave Egypt. By the time the 31st Battalion embarked for France in mid-1916, it had been transformed from a newly raised unit into a disciplined and organised battalion—ready, though not yet tested, for the demands of the Western Front.

FRANCE AND THE WESTERN FRONT- TRENCH WARFARE

On 16^th June 1916 the unit embarked on the Hororata and disembarked in Marseilles on 23^rd June 1916. The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats

THE BATTLE OF FROMELLES JULY 1916

Fromelles was the battalion’s first experience of combat—and it was devastating. The 31st Battalion, part of the 8th Brigade, was ordered to attack strongly defended German positions near the village of Fromelles. The assault took place in broad daylight, across open ground, against entrenched enemy forces supported by machine guns.

For men like William, who had only recently left the training camps of Egypt, the conditions were almost unimaginable. As a Corporal, he would have been responsible for leading his section forward—guiding them through the chaos, maintaining direction under fire, and trying to keep his men together as they advanced.

The attack quickly turned into a catastrophe. Units were cut down as they crossed no man’s land, and those who reached the German lines found themselves isolated and under intense counterattack. Casualties were enormous. The 31st Battalion alone suffered heavily, and many men, like William, were listed as missing, their fate only determined later by court of enquiry.

In William’s story, this marks a sudden and tragic turning point. After months of steady progress—rising from Lance Corporal to Corporal during the training period in Egypt—his war was brought to an abrupt end in his very first battle, one that would become known as one of the most costly days in Australian military history

COURT OF ENQUIRY

As soon as possible after a battle/action a court of Inquiry was held to determine what had happened to all ranks within the battalion. All soldiers were then listed and what happen was ascertained to the best of the knowledge of the men involved. This was not always possible to confirm those missing unless they were seen by a survivor to be killed or wounded. In many cases those listed as missing and were not on the hospital or PoW reports from the Redcross or from the Enemy either German or Turkish were declared dead. The actual date of death was not determined until they made all enquiries, and this process could take a few days to many months

William’s enquiry was held in the field on 1st August 1917, and the verdict was “killed in action 19th July 1916 -previously listed as missing in action”.  Three statements were taken from soldiers who were in the battle

·      Statement, Red Cross File No 2390906, 1570 Pte W.G. RALSTON, 31st Bn, 27 February 1917: 'I knew him, we were at Fleurbaix. During the attack he was killed by a shell. I was fairly close at the time and saw the shell burst but I did not know then whom it had killed but the men afterwards told me it had killed him.'

·      Second statement, 412 Pte T. McBRYDE, 31st Bn, 27 February 1917: 'I knew him very well. We were at Fleurbaix. We held the trenches for 14 hours and were then bombed out. I saw him killed by a shell on the evening of July 19th.'

·      Third statement, 412 Pte T. McBRYDE, 31st Bn (patient, 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, England), 15 March 1917: 'I saw Cpl Ryan's body lying dead on the ground, during the charge he (sic) made on July 19th.'

FAMILY NOTICE

William’s name was included in the casualty lists as Missing, in the Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah) on 1 September 1916. His father as next of kin would have received the notification sent, probably by cable, on 18 August 1916.

MP INTERVENTION

On 13^th January 1917, the local MP, W Massy Greene, contacted the Officer in Charge, Base Records, about William expressing concern about the time being taken to advise William’s parents about what happened to William. There is no reply in the records.

PENSION

His father, Patrick, received a pension of 2 pound a fortnight from 15^th January 1918

MEMORIAL SCROLL

His father received his Memorial scroll on 3^rd November 1921

MEMORIAL PLAQUE

His father received his memorial plaque on 22^nd September 1922

VICTORY MEDAL

His father received his Victory Medal on 12^th February 1923

GRAVE SITE

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 3), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France. (Plot I, Row A, Grave No 2)

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service William was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Murwillumbah War Memorial, the Bargo “Finding Sergeant Private Ryan” Memorial. His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour  in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial Number 119 among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.