RYAN John Edward

10/3994, Private, 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment, WW1

CITATION

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Gazetted 22 October 1917

La Basse Ville, 30 July 1917.  For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when acting as company runner during an attack.  Although all the other runners were lost early in the day he reduced the loss to a minimum by the promptness and rapidity with which he performed this arduous duty single-handed, showing the most utter disregard of the intense enemy shelling, which continued throughout the whole operation, lasting twenty hours.  Had it not been for his exceptional gallantry and coolness, communications back would have been greatly impaired.  He was the first man to volunteer for more work later in the evening of the same day, when guides were required for the relieving company

KNOWN AWARDS

Distinguished Conduct Medal

British War Medal

Victory Medal

NOTES

Born 27 May 1888, Te Aroha, New Zealand

Died 12 June 1964, Auckland, New Zealand

THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT