John Ryan (VC 1857)

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John Ryan VC (1823 - 4 March 1858) was born in Kilkenny and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

[edit] Details

He was about 34 years old, and a private in the 1st Madras Fusiliers (later The Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Indian Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 26 September 1857 at Lucknow, India, a party of men was shut up and besieged in a house in the city. Private Ryan, in conjunction with another private (Peter McManus), dashed into the street and took a wounded captain out of a dhooly and carried him into the house in spite of heavy fire in which the captain was again wounded. In addition to this Private Ryan devoted himself during the day to rescuing the wounded in the neighbourhood from being massacred.

He later achieved the rank of Sergeant.

He was killed in action, Cawnpore, India, on 4 March 1858.

[edit] The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum (Chelsea, England).

[edit] References

Listed in order of publication year

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
• Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)