John Ryan (VC 1863)

John Ryan
Born	1839 Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary
Died	29 December 1864 (aged c25) Tuakau, New Zealand
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit	65th Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars	New Zealand Wars Invasion of Waikato
Awards	Victoria Cross

John Ryan VC (1839 – 29 December 1864) was born in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Ryan was about 24 years old, and a Lance Corporal in the 65th Regiment of Foot (later the 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment), British Army during the Invasion of Waikato (one of the campaigns in the New Zealand Wars), when the following deed took place on 7 September 1863, for which he was awarded the VC.

For gallant conduct at the engagement near Cameron-town above referred to. This Non-Commissioned Officer, with Privates Bulford and Talbot, of the same Regiment, who have been recommended for the Medal for distinguished conduct in the Field, for their behaviour on the same occasion, removed the body of the late Captain Swift from the Field of Action,, after he had been mortally wounded, and remained with it all night in a bush surrounded by the enemy.

Ryan died at Tuakau, New Zealand, on 29 December 1864, before he received the medal. He drowned while trying to save a drunken comrade in the Waikato River.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The York & Lancaster Regiment Museum (Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England).

References

Listed in order of publication year

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword XVI (64): 185–287. 
• Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)