Trafford

Born at Salford on the 24th June 1869, the birth being registered during
the September quarter 1869 in the Salford R.D. - ref: 8d/58, the son of
Peter & Bridget Ryan (nee Geoghegan).   Baptised at the Church of St.
Vincent de Paul on the 8th August 1869.

1871 Census - 1st dwelling on Back Police Street, Altrincham.   Son - aged:
2 - born: Salford, Lancashire.   Head of household - Peter Ryan - Married -
aged: 32 - Painter - born: Ireland.   also - Bridget Ryan - Wife - aged: 30
- born: Ireland.   Plus 5 elder siblings.

1881 Census - 59 Chapel Street, Altrincham.   Son - aged: 9 - Scholar -
born: Manchester.   Head of household - Bridget Ryan - Married - aged: 40 -
Field Labourer (Agriculture) - born: Ireland.    Plus 7 siblings and 1
nephew.   No trace of his father.

1891 Census - 29 Back Chapel Street, Altrincham.    Brother - aged: 20 -
occ: Agricultural Labourer - born: Manchester.    Head - Mary Kelly
(Ralph's sister) - widow - aged: 30 - Field Labourer - born: Manchester. 
Plus 2 nieces and 1 boarder.    His mother - Bridget Ryan - Married - aged:
50 -occ: Works in the Fields - born: Ireland was residing at 8 Lord Street,
Altrincham.   No trace of his father after 1871.

WO 363.    Enlisted at Warrington into the 3rd Battalion, Liverpool
Regiment on the 4th June 1890.   He was recorded as being born at Salford,
he was aged: 19 years 0 months.   Employed as a Labourer and resided at 2
Chapel Street.    He was 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighed 121 lb and his
chest measurements were 33.5 - 34.5 inches.   His complexion was - Sallow,
his eyes - Grey, his hair - Dark Brown and a Roman Catholic.

His mother - Bridget Ryan died in 1898 - aged: 59.

1901 Census - Presumably serving in South Africa.

Unable to find a record of his marriage to widow -  Mary Rebecca Reeves
(nee Wyatt) c 1904.

1911 Census - 8 Baker Street, Timperley.   Head of household - Married -
aged: 40 - occ: Outside Labourer - born: Salford.   Also - Mary Ryan - Wife
- aged: 42 - born: Altrincham.    They had been married for 4 years.   
Children listed as - Beatrice (14) - Arthur (12) - Charles (9) - Ellen (4)
- Ralph (3 months).   Although they are all recorded as being "Ryan's",
Beatrice, Arthur and Charles were actually "Reeves", being 3 of her 5
children with her husband - Arthur Reeves, now deceased (they had lost
two).   Ellen and Ralph were Ralph and Mary's children.

Mary's first husband's name was Arthur Reeves who died in 1903 - aged: 32. 
  The 1901 census for 1 Thomas Street, Altrincham shows Arthur Reeves -
aged: 29 - Brickmaker - born: Altrincham - Mary Reeves - wife - aged: 31 -
born: Altrincham - their two children - Beatrice 4 - Arthur 3.  They had a
third child - Charles, born in 1902.

Ralph served for 12 years in the KORLR and served during the Chinese Riots
(1898 - 1901) and in the Anglo-Boer War (1899 - 1902).  Re-enlisted in
August 1914.    Employed by Messrs James Hamilton & Son (Builders) Hale.

WO363 - Attested 19/08/1914 - aged 40, (actually 45), having previously
served in the 4th Bn. King's Own Royal Lancaster Rgt.    Height 5 feet 4
inches - chest 35 1/2 inches with a 2 1/4 inch expansion - weight 121 lb.  
 Hazel eyes - greyish brown hair - clasped hands tattoo on left forearm and
clasped hands with National flag tattoo on right forearm.     Drafted to
France on 04/12/1914.    His "unmarried wife" (partner) was Mary Rebecca
Reeves, (nee Wyatt) who lived at 48 Chapel Street, Altrincham.    Their
children were named as:- Charles Reeves (Mary's child by her previous
marriage) - born 07/05/1901;  Ralph Reeves (their illegitimate son) - born
19/12/1910 - Catherine Mary Ellen Reeves (their illegitimate daughter) -
born 24/01/1907.

A letter from him was received by his wife on 17/05/1915 in which he
stated. "We have been having a rough time.  They are lucky fellows that get
home from here".

Death reported in the 25/06/1915 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.  Photo
in 09/07/1915 edition of the local newspaper.

There was a mix up over Ralph's name.   By letter dated 09/07/1915, his
wife was informed by the Matron at No. 12 General Hospital, Rouen, that he
had been wounded and had been transferred to England - he was already dead
and had been mixed up with another Ralph Ryan.   On 18/11/1922, his medals
were sent to a Peter Ryan (his eldest brother), residing at 123 Bury Road,
Rochdale, Lancashire.  

In order to ascertain pension entitlements - the WO wrote to Mrs Reeves
asking her for an explanation as to why the birth certificate for one of
her sons (presumably Charles) lists Arthur Reeves as the father.   She
replied explaining that her husband Arthur, had been dead for many years
and that her son had been dependant upon Private Ryan since he was 4 years
of age as she had now been living with Private Ryan for 10 years. By
19/09/1919 Mary Rebecca Reeves was residing at 11 John Street, Altrincham. 
  Private Ryan's parents were dead, his brother - Richard Ryan, aged 46
resided at Oakfield Road, Altrincham and his sister - Mary Ellen Clarke,
aged 51 resided at 26 King Street West, Stockport.

Sustained a gas attack at 4.30pm on 02/05 and shortly after the Germans
their centre, but were stopped by rifle and machine gun fire.  A few
Germans did manage to enter Listening Patrol Farm, but were charged by a
Corporal Cooper and 20 men and fled.   The Germans again entered Listening
Patrol Farm on 03/05 and an unsuccessful counter attack was made.  Several
killed by shelling on 09/05.   They were relieved on 10/05 and went into
reserve at La Brique.    Moved back into the front line on 13/05 and on
16/05 took over billets at Oosthoek.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1916, which states
that he lived at 52 Chapel St.

His medals were sent to his brother - Peter at 123 Bury Road, Rochdale.  
Peter and his other brother - Richard Ryan are commemorated on the Roll of
Honour section of the Chapel Street Memorial.

See also "The Bravest Little Street in England" by Karen Cliff, Trafford
Local Studies Library.