From the Chester Chronicle, 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 affair 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.
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FUNERAL OF A BALAKLAVA VETERAN.
On Saturday were laid to rest in Hawarden Churchyard the remains of one of the low whose life story linked the present to the "brave days of old." Thomas Ryan, who rode as a sergeant in D Troop, XVII (Death or Glory) Lancers in the memorable Light Cavalry Charge, has joined, at the ripe age of 88, the comrades who entered the "Valley of Death" on October 25th, 1854, and whose glory will never fade. Of the one hundred and forty odd Lancers and Hussars who returned from that wild charge but few now remain. One of those survivors is Lord Tredegar, who was then Captain Godfrey Morgan, in command of Ryan's troop.
His memory up to the last was unimpaired, and having received a good education in his youth he was able to give an intelligent account of the scenes and events that took place during the Crimean Campaign. He was born 25th May 1812 at Kilkenny, where his father was head gardener to Lord Ormonde. With this noble-man's son he travelled as valet on the Continent, but he eventually joined the XVII Lancers in Dublin. This regiment having been stationed for a considerable time in Ireland had a large proportion of Irishmen in its ranks. His skill in horsemanship was so marked that he became rider to his troop, and but for circumstance might have been rating master to the regiment.
When the war broke out time XVI. was one of the first cavalry regiments sent out, and after enduring the privations due to disease at Scutari and Varad [sic], at last landed in limo Crimea. Though present at the Alma his regiment did not take a very active part, as for reasons best known to those in command no attempt was made to cut off the Russian retreat.
He called to mind Captain Nolan riding up to Lord Cardigan, and delivering the such discussed order, which, of course, Ryan never heard. He remembered distinctly the cavalry advancing for about a mile at a walk, then at a trot, and finally the "wild charge." Beyond that, like most who have taken part in such stirring events, there remained only a confused whirlwind of lances and waving swords, infuriated horses, and yelling riders; flashing of guns and sombre clouds, quivering and sinking steeds and emptied saddles, the rally and desperate flight on their return of wounded and weakened men on blown chargers.
Three horses dropped under Ryan, and his fourth mount was just able to bring him back to safety when it collapsed. Lord Cardigan formed up the survivors, and spoke of the heroism, not alone of the living, but of the dead, and how that the memory of those lying out in the valley would never die, and that a grateful nation would cherish the survivors. (Lord Cardigan did not possess the gift of prophecy). But even here comedy was destined to tread closely on the heels of tragedy. An irrepressible Irish trooper, a well educated man, who for reasons satisfactory to himself, gave his services to her Majesty, replied, "Well, my lord, after all your praiching, I'd sooner be a live private than a dead general anyhow." It is greatly to to feared that Lord Cardigan's patriotic address lost much of its effect in the presence of this humorous sally [?].
Ryan took part also in the battle of Inkerman (thesoldiers' battle), but here as at the Alma there was litte scope for the mounted man. lr1 Om lines before Sevastopol ha; IN14111X21IL dish picket duty, while, di/A:us$, hunger, and cold did their deadly work. On one occasion he returned from the lines for somo purpose, &Jul found thut a sick comrade had just died of cholera in the tent. The eliiip!s$in v.as the only Doi II 111 C..11.11.11), but he was superintending the cooking of a cow's head in a camp kettle. over a smolt tin., which he had made in his tent. He assisted Itylui to give the body a hasty burial, but on returning to he most found that the head and cooking apparatus had disappeared. The rites of the church, and so under thin skirts of bin (cavalry cloak ilk) chaplain's meal was con-v,yoil to the lines, and the, $mistimed without benefit. of clergy by hi, officer, himself and comrade. and in his own wards "the broth was execellent." chaplain made complaint, but in Ole fa.00 of the very pedinent quostion "Where did you get the oow'u head from?" put to him by Ityean'e captain, he withdrew the charge.
These are some of the many reminiscences which the old warrior told to an appreciative listener. After the retuning from the Crimea, having done lout tern years' service, unel reached t ho raid: of Troop Sergeant Maine, ho took his discharge with is bounty of LSO. To the last he (tar$ied hinwoll with the upright. bearing of the 1,41( cavalry man. II, delighted to come into school (en the etnivervary of his 11;411(3, and marratne the incidents of the struggle vi in which he had borne his part. Although troubled with linttiellitis he could recite charge of the light brigade" with a vigour, which, atkleki to the fact the reeitor load taken part in this "battle, of rho Titans," gave an atleled interest to 'Pennyrcon's magnificent II is last ShOt t,r1 Se.11001 'visa on Alma Day, and he then promised to come on clic anniversary of Itii14- klain, and give for the second time an account of the charge. Alas, this wren not to be. It as jubt about twelve nionth, .int$ he followed to the grave the laxly of Thomas ltugn:an, a (;-inseam comrade. Last C)irannui (Lay he spent thy day with at friend, and tallteel long an(1 freely metier prolon,ed life, aril at this time lie also received a letter from his oldcaptain, Trti:(;_rar.
The funeral procession was headed by Bugler Ill...swell, Trumpet, r IIaswell, Se.rgcants Lloyd, NVillian., Jones 11 C1o., 5,11 and Q 6(1, Diiko of Wellington'. Then came the local rneinl,c.rti of the St,,,,) Stile:Hors* Afreciation. of which 'wily the son of the donieased wvas a. mcnibor; T. Wright, chair-man of the IIaw$Inden Parish Council; Sergeant reir.fentin., Checter 14411allists' Asso-eiation, and Memoirs. Die.kinson. Broughton, rant Fitzpritrick, (L v. Owen, with others. The $earons, who were all .,'el soldie.rs, who had seen service in (,(lit, South Afros,,and eli,where, $wero T' (1 ((marks, It.N., tic-iweant-major Bolden, Sergeant Jones, I, a nee-corporal ((ovate ion, Private Court$nay Itcgi'ment),:;ergcant NIVCS (York arid 1)itivia.ticr), Sergeant 3conin (Rifle Brigade). sergoant Catliorall iori$ 1'eonia.tirv), Corporal gl(r ("en-a-ick, Private Morris 123rd Tt.NV.F.). Sanelycroft Tlettery of lt,val Field Artillery were not represented, though in orders, the ini.sty, rainy afternoon probably a.cer,unting for their ahaenoe. Roy. T. Bartow Poole conducted the service, and at the eleve the "I...st 1.0st" soun(Incl the fund reciting place- of the old warrior. The chief mourners were his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.
Hs memorial card bore the names of Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, Sevastopol. followed by "Thomas Ryan a native of Kilkenny, and late Troop Sergeant-major in II.M.'s XVII. I..ane,ors, whom Gocl's high grace awed front devil), in the nacti$$rable Light Cavalry (Thar-,, at. Balaclava, and during the perils of that Crimean Campaign, took him final discharge un 00,6, 20th, 008, aged 88 and was laid to rest in St. 0.$iniors Churchyard, llawar-(l$n, on 1)e-comb$r 10111, 1908. 'I have fought a good fight.' ii. Timothy iv., 7."
The following letter has been received from his old Captain, Lord Tredegar, Tredegar park, Newtown, Monmouthshire, 20th December, 1908.
T.H.Haswell Esq.
Dear Sir _ I am much obliged for your letter informing me of the recovory of the body of Thomas Ryan. late of the 17th Lancers, and of his burial with military honours yesterday, and of the sad intelligence that he had been missing for so long. I shall be pleased to receive any information you possess as to the position of his son at the present time.
I am, yours faithfully,
TREDEGAR.
Tale-spinner or war hero... Ryan's riddle
By North Wales Live, 22 October 2007
AN AMATEUR historian is trying to prove a Deeside man took part in the Charge Of The Light Brigade.
Mr Gaston, of Hawarden, is trying to put together the pieces of the historical jigsaw.
His interest in the mystery was sparked when he stumbled across a weather-beaten tombstone in the churchyard of St Deiniol's, Hawarden.
It said the grave was the final resting place of Thomas Ryan, who had lived with his son at 23 Wellington Avenue, Shotton, for some time prior to his death. It also said he took part in the cavalry charge at Balaclava on October 25 1854 - but military records do not agree.
They show that although two Ryans - James and John - took part in the battle, no Thomas Ryan was listed.
Mr Gaston says reputable researchers have written Thomas Ryan off as a tale-spinner, but he believes Ryan may well have been a hero.
His painstaking research led him to examine information about an army reunion for Privacy he charge, organised by Lord Tredegar and held in South Wales in 1904,
The local press recorded that a letter had been received from his old captain, Lord Tredegar, expressing regret at Ryan's death.
Mr Gaston said: "I can't believe in an age when there were numerous Crimea veterans that Ryan could have fooled an officer of the regiment and the survivors of the charge."
He hopes Ryan was the man who took part in the battle - and believes vital clues may still exist to prove his theory.
He added: "The answer may lie in a musty drawer or cupboard somewhere on Deeside.
"His discharge papers may exist and so may a medal which is probably named and lists his regiment.
"Thomas was friendly with a Thomas Rugman, another Crimea veteran. Information about him may also provide clues.
"Hopefully, a Daily Post reader may have the answer to a mystery which has tantalised me for many years."
[Source: "Thomas Ryan, tale-spinner or war hero?", North Wales Live, 22 October 2007. "Thomas Rugman"? There was no TR listed in the Light Brigade.]