Current Information:

Born-Westminster

Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, France

On 26th June, 1915, 2nd Rifle Brigade battalion of 25 Brigade, 8th Division left their billets and moved into trenches near Fleurbaix where they remained until relieved on 1st July. John Ryan was killed on the 28th June but the battalion diary provides no further information about his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.