Private Albert Richard Ryan
Ryan with his daughter Maud and son Victor
Albert Richard Ryan was born on 2 June 1875 at Aghamore, Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh, son of farmer and ex-soldier Thomas Smith Ryan and his wife Susan Ryan (nee Fawcett). On 6 October 1904 he married Elizabeth Robinson at Holy Trinity Parish Church in Lisnaskea. The couple had four children over the next six years before Elizabeth's death on 27 February 1910. By the time of the 1911 Census Albert was living at Moughley, Kilmore, County Fermanagh, on the farm of his brother Frederick, his two surviving children living with relatives.
Ryan enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 24 and 26 April 1913 (No.845 - later Corps of Hussars No 71130). He embarked for France on 17 August 1914 with A Squadron, seeing action on the Retreat from Mons and Advance to the Aisne.
In May 1916 A Squadron came together with D and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
Ryan remained with the regiment throughout the war, though how much time he spent in France and Belgium and how much at the Antrim depot is not known at present. On 7 June 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z of the Army Reserve.
According to family recollections, despite his age Ryan also served in World War 2, and was severely wounded.
He died at on 15 February 1958 and was buried in Lisnaskea.
Albert Ryan with pals Richard Flanagan (right) from Derrylin and Humphrey Boyd
The Impartial Reporter, 17 September 1917
Ryan's headstone, recently erected by his family
Images kindly provided by Private Ryan's grandson David Storey.