British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lance-Corporal Edward Ryan, 13th Battalion Essex Regiment, died of wounds, 6 March 1916

1914-15 Star (17972 L. Cpl., Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals (17972 Pte., Essex R.); Memorial Plaque (Edward Ryan) nearly extremely fine (4) £160-200

Edward Ryan was born in Limehouse, Middlesex, lived at King’s Cross and enlisted at Finsbury, Middlesex. Serving with the 13th Battalion Essex Regiment, he died of wounds on 6 March 1916, aged 28 years. He was buried in the Loos British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He was the husband of Edith M. Ryan of 20 Affleck Street, Pentonville, King’s Cross, London.

Although Lance-Corporal Ryan’s death is officially listed as ‘died of wounds’, a passage from Essex Units in the Great War 1914-19, Vol. 6, p.390, suggests that it was more of a tragic accidental death. It recalls that on the night of 5 March 1916, Ryan and five others were sheltering in a cellar having a coke brazier near the open doorway. In the morning, all but one were found dead due to gas poisoning/suffocation, and the one ‘survivor’ was to die soon after.