Edwin John Ryan

Evening Post, 3 Jul 1917: A PROUD RECORD: There are very few families in New Zealand who have sent five sons to fight for King and country in the present war, but this proud record may be claimed by a Wellington lady (Mrs Rhoda Ryan). Of these five boys, one (Edwin John Ryan) died of wounds received in France last month. He left New Zealand with the 15th Reinforcements, and while in France transferred to the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion, in order to be near his elder brother. The eldest son (Frederick Martin Ryan) sailed with the 6th Reinforcements Mounted Rifles, served on Gallipoli, and afterwards proceeded to France. He was invalided to England suffering from shell-shock, and is now in the New Zealand Provost Corps, undergoing training for an instructor. Another son (Thomas Patrick Ryan) went with the 7th Reinforcements, and was twice wounded during fighting on the Somme. Walter James Ryan left New Zealand at the age of 16, on the staff of a troopship, and after serving two years in this capacity joined up with the New Zealand Forces. He is now lying sick in an English hospital. The fifth son, (Richard Ryan) left New Zealand on the ---------, and was on three different transports that were torpedoed. He was 15 years of age when he left New Zealand. The only remaining son is 11 years of age, and is breaking his heart that he cannot go away himself. "If I had a dozen more sons," said Mrs Ryan, "I would still say to them, Go and do your duty.'".