Trafford

Cunningham Rowan Ryan - born during the June quarter 1886 in the Altrincham
R.D. - ref: 8a/18, the son of Cunningham Francis & Elizabeth Jane Ryan.

His father - Cunningham Francis Ryan, a Provision Agent, who was born at
Monaghan, Ireland in 1841, died during the December quarter 1888 - aged:
47.

1891 Census -  Doveston Road, Ashton Upon Mersey.   Son - aged: 5 - born:
Ashton upon Mersey.  Head of household - Elizabeth J. Ryan - Widow - aged:
48 - occ: Living on own Means - born: Ireland.    Plus 9 siblings and 1
servant.  The first six children were born at Stretford, the remaining four
at Ashton upon Mersey.  The youngest was born after his father's death.

1901 Census - Doveston Road, Ashton Upon Mersey.    Son - aged: 15 - born:
Ashton upon Mersey.   Head of household - Elizabeth J. Ryan - Widow - aged:
57 - occ: Living on own Means - born: Ireland.    Plus 9 siblings and 1
servant.  The first six children were born at Stretford, the remaining four
at Ashton upon Mersey.

His mother died in 1903, aged: 58.

He left the Port of Liverpool on the 3rd December 1906, aboard the 3,497
ton S.S. Surrey bound for Wellington, New Zealand.  Registered as a Farm
Labourer - aged: 20.

Commemorated on the family gravestone in Sale Cemetery - C.2086.

He embarked at Wellington, North Island on the 14th December 1914 as part
of the 2nd Reinforcements aboard one of three transport ships -  Verdala or
Willochra or Knight of the Garter, bound for Suez, Egypt.

A photo of his grave can be found on:- 
http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/rowan-ryan

A Mrs Wrigley, Stockport, England is listed as his next of kin.   Quite
likely to be his sister - Mildred, who married a William Sugden Wrigley at
Hayfield, Derbyshire in 1906 - as it happens, this is the only Ryan-Wrigley
marriage that I can find 1900-1925.

From the NZ History website:-
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/canterbury-mounted-rifles/1916.

On the 9th August 1916, the Canterbury Mounted Rifles leaves their bivouacs
at 4 a.m. to take part in an attack on Bir el Abd by the Anzac Mounted
Division.  The CMR is initially in reserve but is soon sent forward to
support the left flank of the Auckland Mounted Rifles.  Ottoman
counter-attacks eventually halt the advance, and at 11.20 a.m. enfilading
fire forces the left flank to retire.  With Ottoman counter-attacks
continuing, the division receives orders to withdraw at 4.15 p.m.  The CMR
withdraws successfully while in close contact with enemy forces. The
regiment bivouacs at Debabis.  The day’s fighting has cost nine men
killed and 22 wounded.   Another six men are reported as wounded and
missing.