Ordinary Signalman

William Albert Ryan

Conflict: 
WW2
Additional Information: 

Son of William Augustus and Winifred Adeline Ryan (nee Williams), of Ellerslie, Auckland.

References:
  • CWGC
NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

"The loss of three young members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in the yacht Evaine, near Tiritiri, on April 17, was recalled at an inquest yesterday into the death of Jack William  Dallow, signalman, aged 20, of Oriental Bay, Wellington, whose body was found on the beach at Wliangaparaoa Peninsula on May 4. The, bodies of his companions, William Albert Ryan and Desmond Clyde Waite, have not been recovered. Evidence was given that permission was given to the men to go sailing in Ryan's boat, which was found capsized five hours later about three miles from Tiritiri. All sails were set, and the leader sail appeared to have fouled the masthead. Robert Wilson Leitch, yeoman of signals, who had previously sailed with Ryan, said: "It appears to me that while hoisting the spinnaker Ryan handed over the tiller to either Dallow or Waite, who through inexperience might easily have allowed the yacht to gybe." The coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, returned a verdict of accidental drowning in the case of Dallow, and intimated that later proceedings would probably be taken in respect of the other victims."

[New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23704, 10 July 1940, Page 12]

Public Contributions:

There are no public contributions written for this casualty

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Service Number: 
A/1815
Name:
William Albert Ryan
Rank: 
Ordinary Signalman
Date of Birth:
Not known
Next of Kin: 
Mrs Winifred Adeline Ryan, Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Enlistment:
Not known
Unit:
Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMNZN Philomel, Tirtiri Matangi Island Port Signal Station

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Accidental Death
Date of Death:
17 April 1940
Day of Death:
Wednesday
Age at Death: 
23
Conflict: 
WW2

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR)

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery Reference: 
Panel 12.
Cemetery Location: 
New Zealand
William Albert Ryan
Images
More information
  • Files must be less than 100 MB.
  • Allowed file types: png gif jpg jpeg.
Files
More information
  • Files must be less than 100 MB.
  • Allowed file types: txt pdf doc.