Lieutenant Evan Ryrie the son of Harry and Christine W Ryrie, of Highlands Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, born 15 February 1894 in Toronto.
Ryrie, a banker, appointed Lieutenant in the 20th Battalion, on 9 May 1915.
Attestation
Ryrie embarked for England on 15 May 1915, and re-attested 20 May 1915 in Sandling Camp, with the 20th Battalion. At this time, he stood 5′ 11″ tall, 155 pounds, with fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, 21 years, 3 months of age.
20th Battalion
Organized in October 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J A W Allan, mobilized at Toronto, and later recruited in Aurora, Milton, Parry Sound, Owen Sound, Whitby, Barrie, Brampton, York, Simcoe, Niagara Falls, Dundas and Sudbury. Embarked from Montreal 15 May 1915 aboard MEGANTIC, later disembarking in England on 24 May 1915., with a strength of 35 officers, 1100 other ranks. Arrived in France 14 September 1915 with the 2nd Canadian Division, 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade and later reinforced by 5th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Ryrie proceeded to France with his unit, 14 September 1915. First casualties of the 20th Battalion suffered at Quentin-Cabaret on 28 September 1915, Private Harold Browne 57135 killed. Considerable time spent at Dranoutre, then at La Brasserie in early October 1915.
Appendicitis
Evan admitted via No.1 Ambulance Train to No.3 General Hospital, Le Treport, 13 October 1915, appendicitis, later operated on 20 October 1915. Still seriously ill, 12 November 1915.
Ryrie’s letter above refers to 4 October 1917 when the battalion allotted the Divisional Baths at Dranoutre. Lieutenant Evan Ryrie invalided to England, sick, and admitted to Queen Alexandria’s Military Hospital, London, 17 November 1915, now progressing well.
Ryrie unfit for any service for four months, 29 February 1916, Queen Alexandria’s Military Hospital, later discharged on 3 March 1916.
Lieutenant Evan Ryrie posted to General List on 1 April 1916, and Lt Ryrie deemed unfit for any service for three months, later on 24 June 1916 in Toronto, Canada.
Recovery
Proceedings of Medical Board at 86, Strand, London later on 29 September 1916, this Officer now recovered.
Lieutenant Evan Ryrie attached to 35th Battalion, from 2 October 1916 to 6 October 1916, later attached to 92nd Battalion, 6 October 1916.
Lt Ryrie transferred to 15th Battalion, East Sandling, 22 November 1916, later joining his unit on 3 December 1916.
15th Battalion
Organized in Valcartier Camp on 2 September 1914, composed of recruits from Toronto area, and initially Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J A Currie. Embarked Quebec 3 October 1914 aboard SS MEGANTIC, and later disembarked in England on 14 October 1914 with a strength of 46 officers, 1109 other ranks.
15th Battalion disembarked in France 14 February 1915 with the 1st Canadian Division, 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 5th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Lieutenant Evan Ryrie to First Army School of Instruction, 27 February 1917, later returning to unit on 10 March 1917.
Killed in Action
The 15th Battalion deployed in the Mericourt Sector in July of 1917, in the trenches improving and lengthening the line, later relieved by the 4th Battalion on 4 July 1917. HQ established in THELUS CAVE, and the battalion sends three companies out to the RIDGE LINE later that night, work consisting of burying cable and building Strong Points.
H.M. the King passed through the Canadian Area later on 10 July 1917, and two companies of the battalion aligned the Lens-Arras road on each side. The battalion then moved out to FRASER CAMP near Mont St Eloy on 14 July 1917.
Mazingarbe
Two days later the 15th Battalion marched to Maisnil-les-Ruitz, and to Mazingarbe on the following day.
Relieving the 10th Battalion in the front lines of the Loos Sector later on the evening of 18 July 1917, Lieutenant Evan Ryrie, Killed in Action, coming along a communication trench, 19 July 1917.
Ryrie’s service record reveals several erroneous references to his death on 17 July 1917, though corrected to 19 July 1917 at some point. The last entry by Lt Col Bent in the unit war diary for 18 July 1917 mentions the death of Lt Ryrie. Bent likely wrote the entry after midnight of the 18th, very shortly before Ryrie killed.
Lieutenant Evans Ryrie buried at Hersin Communal Cemetery Extension on 19 July 1917, with both the Canadian Official War Photographer and Cinematographers present.
The grave of Lt Evan Ryrie on 20 April 2017.
Hersin Communal Cemetery Extension
Hersin a village about 5 kilometres south of Bethune and about 2 kilometres west of the main road from Bethune to Arras, lying north-east of the village.
The extension to Hersin Communal Cemetery begun by French troops, who later made over 100 burials, and taken over by Commonwealth troops and field ambulances in March 1916. Used until October 1918.
The extension contains 224 Commonwealth burials of the Great War. Many of the graves are of engineers, mostly from tunneling companies. All but seven of the French graves since removed. The extension designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.