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From the Chester Chronicle for Saturday 19th December 1908:
[NEEDS EDIT]
Tragic Death of a Crimean Veteran - All doubts as to the fate of fate of the veteran Thomas Ryan who disappeared from the home of his son, Mr Gerge Ryan, of Wellington Street on October the 2Oth, were removed by the finding of his body in the Dee on Wednesday morning. The Flintshire coroner, Mr P.L. Jones held an inquest on the body on Thursday at the Shotton Police Station.
George Ryan, iron worker, residing at 23 Wellington Street, Shotton, identified the body as that of his father, Thomas Ryan, who was 82 years of age.
He was formerly a Troop Sgt. Major in the l7th Lancers and took part in the memorable charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava during the Crimean war.
After leaving the army he worked as a gardener, but of late years had lived a retired life with the witness, who last saw him alive on the 20th of October when the deceased, having had his dinner, left the house to go, as the witness thought, to go on his customary walk. He did not complain of his health and witness could not account for his presence in the river. He never knew that he had ever threatened to take his own life, and he always appeared to be happy and cheerful. He habitually took walks to Connah's Quay to see his friends and always ate and slept well.
He had had no disagreement with any one to witness's knowledge and to him the whole of was a complete mystery.
Sergeant Waterhill of the Police explained that the young man who had found the deceased's hat and stick on the river bank was seriously ill in hospital and could not attend, but the articles were identified by Mr. Mr George Ryan as belonging to his father.
John Todd, a Joiner, living in Lower Street, Connah's Quay, gave evidence as to seeing the body floating in the river. He procured a boat and brought it ashore. The jury delivered the verdict of "Found drowned" and passed a vote of condolence to the relatives of the deceased.