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Hint: This site is intended as a search aid - not a definitive source. It is essentially an index to documents that seem to relate to this person plus a very brief precis of relevant elements. Sources often conflict and I also flag things with a ? when I am unsure. So if the information below is important to you, then please check the original sources to see what else they contain (and in case I have inadvertantly introduced transcription and/or precising errors). There can be additional information that was not included in the database for both space and copyright reasons.

 

Surname		RYAN
Given Name(s) or Initial(s)		James N
Regimental Number
Rank		Trooper
Unit Name		New South Wales Lancers
State
Extracts and Comments (from Sources as shown)		Source:# 1286 served in S. Africa with NSW Lancers under the alias of James WHITE 943, possibly the 1873 birth of James Nehemiah RYAN registered at Bombala NSW and 1935 death of James N RYAN registered at Newcastle. Bomb.T.: It is reported [c8.1900] that Tpr. J RYAN who went to S. Africa with the Lancers under the name of J WHITE has been wounded in the ankle. Tpr. G GUTTERSON, of the Imperial Bushmen, is in the Hospital suffering from enteric fever. A special honor of Mr. JN RYAN the returned soldier from the Transvaal, is to be held in the Bibbenluke Hall on Wednesday, 6.2.1901. A very pleasant function was held at Bibbenluke last Wednesday night, when Mr. James RYAN, of the NSW Lancers, was welcomed home after his trip to S. Africa. A committee of ladies was formed as soon as the suggestion of holding a reception took practical form, and it was decided that honor should be done by giving a social and also a small souvenir, in recognition of Mr. RYAN's services for his country in S. Africa. The committee worked energetically to make the affair a decided success. Invitations were issued, a good supply of edibles prepared, the hall decorated and everything completed as well as circumstances and time would permit. The result was a large gathering and an enjoyable evening. Dancing was kept up merrily till early morning, to the music supplied by several ladies and gentlemen present. During the evening Mr. C. Gray apologised for the non presentation of the souvenir, which had not been procured owing to the short notice, but would be presented at a later date, and would be on view for a few days at Mr. Kelly’s store, Bibbenluke, and afterwards at the Times office, Bombala. Mr. RYAN looks remarkably well after his recent hardships, and none the worse for the rough usage of a soldier's life. He was fortunate in escaping unwounded, although he sprained his ankle on one occasion, and at another time he got a kick in the jaw from a horse, which sent him to the hospital for a few days. He was quite the lion of the hour at the social on Wednesday and his many friends and relations were enthusiastic in the welcome extended to him on the return to his native land. Mr. JN RYAN's Bibbenluke friends are presenting him with a handsome gold pendant on which is the following inscription – "Presented to Lancer James N RYAN by his Bibbenluke friends on his return from the Transvaal." The pendant may be seen at this office until Saturday morning 16.3.1901. Roe: see also James WHITE 943 NSW Lancers. Bomb.Hd.: Return of Private JN RYAN from South Africa. On Wednesday evening last 6.2.1901, a welcome social was tendered to Private JN RYAN by the residents of Bibbenluke on his return to that locality, after having spent some time fighting for the Empire in South Africa. The welcome took place in the Bibbenluke Hall and was a most enthusiastic affair, the building being crowded, visitors attending from Bombala, Cathcart and elsewhere. The hall was very prettily decorated with greenery, interspersed with miniature flags and Chinese lanterns. Above the stage in floral design were the words “Welcome Home”. It will be remembered that Private RYAN left Sydney with the first contingent of New South Wales Lancers. Queried as to how he liked a soldier's life, he confessed that it had its charms if one were prepared to rough it. This he said he had frequently to do, and often their food for a day consisted of 1 oz of tea and coffee and a biscuit or two. He spoke very well indeed of General French with whose column he was associated during the whole time he served in South Africa. General French he said was most considerate of their comfort and welfare, and was besides a thorough soldier. Private RYAN said he took part in no less than six engagements at the following places viz., Zand River, Ventersburg, Diamond Hill, Oliphants Fontien, Camels Drift and Commando Nek. Besides this he was engaged in skirmishes almost every day. When under fire for the first time at the Zand River, Private RYAN said he was rather nervous, but afterwards he became so insured to seeing men falling all round him that he took very little notice of it. Private RYAN avers that the heaviest fighting he took part in was at Diamond Hill, where it took them two days after continuous fighting, to capture the Boer's position. Besides this in the march from Barbarton to Hiedelberg, General French experienced great difficulty in preventing the Boers capturing his large convoy, the Boers making rear attacks all along the line of march. Although Private RYAN took part in the above engagements he escaped scatheless, with the exception that his horse fell on his ankle, and he was incapacitated for a few days. Private RYAN has had to rough it, he looks none the worse for his experiences. Mr. Grey during the course of the evening said it was the intention of the residents of Bibbenluke to present Mr. RYAN with a sourvenir that night, but the affair was only got up at the 11th hour, consequently the gift had not arrived. The presentation however, would be made in a few days, when he hoped to see them all present. Dancing was indulged in until the early hours of the morning when a very pleasant and enjoyable evening was brought to a close. During the evening refreshments were handed round. URL1: At Bibbenluke on 6.2.1901 a welcome was extended to Private JN RYAN, of the New South Wales Lancers, who has returned from South Africa. The welcome took the form of a social, and was a most enthusiastic affair, visitors attending from Bombala, Cathcart, and other places. Private RYAN, who left Sydney with the first contingent of New South Wales Lancers, gave an account of his experiences in the war. Frequently, he said, it fell to a soldier's lot to have his daily rations consist of one ounce of tea or coffee, and a biscuit or two. Private RYAN was associated with General French's column during the whole time of his service, and he spoke in high terms of praise of the General's consideration of their comfort and welfare, and his soldierly manner. Private RYAN took part in six engagements, namely, Zand River, Ventersburg, Diamond Hill, Oliphants Fontein, Camels Drift, and Commando Nek, besides being in skirmishes almost every day. He said he felt rather nervous when under fire for the first time at Zand River, but he be came so used to seeing men fall all round him that he eventually took but little notice. The heaviest fighting he took part in was at Diamond Hill, where the capture of the Boer's position took two days' continuous fighting. Great difficulty was experienced in the march from Barberton to Heidelberg, in preventing the Boers capturing their large convoy, rear attacks being made by the Boers all along the line. RYAN's horse fell on his ankle on one occasion, incapacitating him for a few days. He also receiVed a kick on the jaw from a horse and was put in the hospital. It is intended to present Private Ryan with a souvenir, as an acknowledgment of his services to the Empire.
Source References		Source:# Oz-Boer contributed source number 1286 Bomb.T.: 17.8.1900, 1 & 8.2 & 15.3.1901 NSW BDMs: NSW Births Deaths & Marriages Index number(s) 7748/1873 & 24186/1935 Bomb.Hd.: Bombala Herald newspaper date(s) 8.2.1901 Evg. News: Evening News (Sydney NSW) date(s) 13.2.1901
External Link URL1		nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114016359

Please email me if you can contribute any other relevant information about this person (eg any other military service, where in Australia they came from or when/where they died). Also, if you find an external link broken.


Apology: For some time now it has been difficult to keep up with the newly available sources (especially the Trove newspaper site) plus the flow of contributions and queries. So I have been forced to prioritise maintenance and data entry over replying to correspondence. Nevertheless, your contributions are being added to the database and acknowledged on the contributions page and, although my replies are many months behind, I will attempt to get to them more often.

 

Colin Roe
Canberra

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