"Kangaroo" V.C. Private John Ryan.  30 December 1918 Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga)

In the latest list of recipients of the Victoria Cross appears the following: - 1717, Private John Ryan, 55th (N.S.W.) Battalion, enlisted at Wagga, New South Wales, on December 1, 1915. He was then 23 years of age, and in civil life had been a laborer. He was born at Tumut, New South Wales, where his mother, Mrs. E. Ryan, still lives.

Private Ryan left Australia on April 14 1916 with the 2nd reinforcements to   the 55th Battalion. He has been reported wounded and admitted to hospital in France on September 30 of this year.

Private J, Ryan, of the 55th Battalion, who left Wagga with the "Kangaroos" was in an attack on the Hindenburg defences on August 30 when the enemy counter-attacked and established a bombing post in the rear. Ryan saved a particularly dangerous situation. He led a party of men with bombs and bayonets, and killed the first three Germans in the trench by skilful bayoneting. Then Ryan alone rushed the remainder with bombs. He fell wounded in No Man's Land.  

Some time prior to enlisting Private Ryan was employed at the Tumut Post Office and he was educated at the Catholic school in that town. He has a sister living at Young.

He spent his final leave in Wagga with Pte. J. Loughlin, and was subsequently attached to the same battalion.