Major William Bernard Ryan, AAMC

By Peter Ryan

On 18 March 1885, William Bernard Ryan was born at Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum, Fairfield, Victoria while his father, Timothy Bernard Ryan (1857-1927) was deputy medical superintendent to that hospital. His mother was Anna Maria Ryan nee Sheehan (1861-1888). Anna had a daughter in 1887 but both mother & daughter were dead within 12 months.

Timothy married again in 1888, which was considered not a long enough period of mourning for his late wife and hence was a source of friction with the Sheehan family members for many years.

During this period, William lived with his grandparents, Jeremiah and Bridget Ryan (both born in County Tipperary, Ireland) in Bacchus Marsh.  William was educated by the Jesuits at St Patrick's College.

Between 1888 and 1900, the family -- his father, step mother (Maria Claire Ryan nee Leydin), William and five step siblings -- lived at Clifton Hill. The family moved to the Hawthorn area about 1900 and two more step siblings were born.

About 1905, William enrolled as a medical student. Family rumour stated that William wanted to do engineering but that course was not available at the University of Melbourne so medicine was his second choice. He graduated in 1909 and worked as an assistant to the local doctor at Nagambie for about 18 months.

Meanwhile, his father bought the medical practice at Bacchus Marsh and was joined by William in about 1912 in joint partnership. This lasted to the outbreak of World War 1.

In 1914, he married Kathleen (Kitty) Cussen at St Patrick’s Cathedral. The celebrant priest was an Irish cousin of the bride. In May 1915, their first child, John Bernard Ryan was born.

RYAN.—On the 18th May, at "Narina " Bacchus   
Marsh, to Dr. and Mrs. W. B. Ryan—a son.

The Argus Saturday 22 May 1915
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1518918

On 23 Aug 1915, he enlisted in Melbourne and on 30 May 1916, he embarked from Melbourne on RMS "Morea" (Royal Mail Service -- a ship hired with civilian crew and army designated hospital) with AAMC (Aust Army Medical Corp) on a daily pay rate of  22/6  paid to 19 May 1916 (before embarkation), subsequent  pay was 19/- per day (excluding deferred pay), an allotment  pay of 15/- in Australia, and net pay not including allowances or deferred pay of 4/-. The daily rate of deferred  pay only issued on completion of service with expeditionary force was 3/6 (half going to his wife).

As he was a professionally qualified person, he was appointed to the commissioned rank of Captain, and promoted to Major on 20 May 1916 prior to embarkation with the Sea Transport Service. 

RYAN. —On the 4th July, at Trinafour prívate hos-
pital. Moonee Ponds, to Captain and Mrs. W. B.
Ryan —a daughter.
The Argus  (Saturday 15 July 1916
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1605375

From 1916-1919, William served as a doctor on ships sailing between London and Sydney and Melbourne.

At the end of the war, thousands of Australian men who served in the Great War were anxious to return home but the UK government did not have enough ships to return the Aussies to their homeland, so the government had various initiatives to stagger the number of returnees including various study initiatives which William accepted.

He undertook a psychiatric course for a year. On the 15 Nov 1919, he embarked from UK for Australia via "Ypiringa" as a Captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps. 

TROOPS RETURNING.
3,328 at Sea.    Within a few weeks the repatriation of members of the A.I.F. will be nearly completed. There are at present 3,328 men on their return journey to Australia, and  this leaves 7,652 of all ranks still on the books in London.  Many of these, however, will probably remain  unaccounted for when the last transports sail, some being deserters.  Up to December 6 251,719 of all ranks had been repatriated......
Contingent on Ypiranga.  Advices have been received by the Defence department to the effect that the following Victorian members of the Australian forces are returning by the transport Ypiranga, which is expected to reach Melbourne shortly before the end of the month, :  On Duty.  Major W B Ryan.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4640659   The Argus  9 Dec 1919

Major Ryan was awarded the British War Medal.  Eligibility for other medals depended on service in a  theatre of war.

On 1  September 1920, William joined the Victorian Public Service and was appointed junior medical officer at Children's Cottages, Kew Mental Hospital.  Within 2 years, he was appointed Deputy Superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane, Yarra Bend, a position his father held some 35 years earlier.

Over the next 25 years, William was appointed Superintendent of Kew, Beechworth, Mont Park, and Sunbury.

William Bernard Ryan with his sons Bill and Ted circa 1946.  Photo courtesy of Peter Ryan.

He died at the relatively young age of 61 as a result of a minor operation which went horribly wrong in Mt St Elvins Hospital, Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria.

He was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery on 23 March 1946 some seven minutes walk from his parents elaborate double grave. Kitty, a widow for nearly 18 years, was buried with William in 1964.

William enjoyed tennis, golf, gardening & reading.