John Henry Ryan
Memorial: Thornbury - St Mary's Church
Regiment: Royal Navy
Medals: 1914 Star, British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Stoker Ist Class 277495
Parents: William and Mary Ryan
Marital status: Married
Home address: 51 St Mary Street, Thornbury, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: Seaman
Date of birth: 27/08/1876
Place of birth: Thornbury, Bristol
Date of death: 01/11/1914
Buried/Commemorated at: Plymouth Naval Memorial (3.); Thornbury United Reformed Church Memorial Tablet
Age: 38
Further information:
Bronze Tablet and Wooden Memorial Board
John Henry Ryan was born in Thornbury in 1876, the son of hawker William Ryan and his wife Mary, who were both from Cork in Ireland. They lived at 51, St Mary Street. John had two older sisters called Ellen and Mary
In 1894 John enlisted in the Royal Navy, giving his occupation as a labourer. He served on a number of different ships
John’s parents both died in Thornbury, his father in 1898 and his mother in 1907. His sister continued to live at 51 St Mary Street.
At the time of the 1911 census John was in Portsmouth on H.M.S. Gloucester. His rank was given as Stoker 1st Class. His marriage to Thirza Louisa Bickley was registered in the December quarter of 1911 in the Devonport area. Thirza was working as a general maid. The couple had a daughter, Eunice Mercy, whose birth was registered in Portsmouth in the June quarter of 1913
In mid-1914 John was based at H.M.S. Vivid II, the Navy Training Unit at Devonport, but he transferred to the cruiser H.M.S. Monmouth on 30th July. Monmouth’s role was to protect Allied shipping from German raiders in the Atlantic. She was soon ordered to join Rear Admiral Cradock’s force, which was hunting for a German Squadron that included the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau. On 1st November, in rough sea conditions, the Germans were located off the coast of Chile and engaged in the Battle of Coronel. The German squadron, with newer, more powerful ships, outnumbered the Allied forces. The Gneisenau fired at Monmouth and, badly damaged, she veered out of line and began to list to port. As the enemy light cruiser Nürnberg drew nearer, Monmouth's list increased so that none of the guns on her port side could be used. The Nürnberg gave the British ship the chance to surrender but there was no response. The German ship then fired a torpedo which missed. Monmouth increased speed, turning towards the Nürnberg, causing her to open fire again. Monmouth sank with the loss of her entire crew of over 700 men. The seas were too rough to attempt any rescue effort. The cruiser Good Hope was also sunk with all hands lost
John’s body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial commemorating those members of the Royal Navy who have no known grave. Leading Seaman George Neale was also lost on the Monmouth and is also named on the Thornbury Memorial
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Thornbury Roots Website. Thornbury and District Museum Research Group. Forces War Records and the CWGC