262049 2nd Lt. Patrick Joseph Ryan British Army Royal Warwickshire Regiment from:Coventry (d.21st March 1918) Patrick Ryan of 19 Sandy Lane Coventry and his wife Rose had 2 children Alan and John Norman Ryan.
He was in the battle called Operation Michael. He was wounded badly, I believe in the midsection, but stood to address his men. He gave guidance to them and talked for half an hour. He then collapsed and was taken away by stretcher, and was hit again, and died on route to a German first aid.
His last words were "Fight on Men". Two stories were published in the Coventry Telegraph from men who served under him. He was a reservist in The Royal Irish Regiment before being called by the Warwickshire Regiment. He had served in Dardenelles beforehand.
He had worked at the Triumph Bike Factory as a young man. Patrick Joseph was born on County Mayo and left with his sister from County Mayo for England and a better life. His sister (name unknown) died in Liverpool and Patrick Joseph then set out for Coventry. He met my Nana Rose there and was married at age 24, Rose at age 20. He had half-sisters and brothers as his father had married 3 times. Patrick Joseph was born late in life to his parents, and he lost them both at an early age.
All letters home to Rose were destroyed by Rose's second husband Albert Hopcroft. My Nana was so distraught when my grandfather was listed as missing, she left her children with a guardian and set out to find him. He was a redhead medium height slender build.
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