Service Record: Parick Joseph Ryan

[dmp1975]

CPO or PO, (not sure which one) Patrick Joseph Ryan

Can anybody help, i am desperately tring to find out information about my Grandfather who served throughout WW2, i am currently waiting on the records office, and they are taking an absolute age. i have some very patchy information on my grandfather as he never spoke to much of the War, i think he once told me he was on mine sweepers, and/or worked in the turrets of the big naval guns as a CPO or PO, cant remember which one, he came from Galway on the West coast of Ireland and joined the Navy pre war, he also remained a while after the war, after the war he settled with my grandmother in Barnsley South Yorkshire, until he died sadly in 1994 age 76.

I have his medals, which i treasure and they are:
1. 1939-1945 Star
2. Atlantic Star, with France and Germany Bar.
3. Italy Star
4. The Defence Medal.
5. And the War Medal (King George), this medal has a Bronze Oakleaf on the Ribbon, i understand this to be a MID, and i am desperate to find out what for, as he never mentioned it.

i aslo heard him speak very briefly about a Royal Navy submarine incident in Liverpool Harbour which he witnessed, i know that this information is vague, but i would appreciate any snippet of information about where he may of served and on which ships, i am only waiting for some facts before i can frame the medals appropriately and hang them pride of place in my home.

Regards.

[John Brown]

Dmp

With regard to your Grandfathers medals this website might provide some useful info:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/WorldWarIiMedalSummary.htm

The submarine incident in Liverpool harbour you refer to is almost certainly the tragic accident involving the brand new submarine HMS Thetis which sank in Liverpool Bay on the 1st June 1939. Thetis was in the process of carrying out her final diving trials when disaster struck. The details of the sinking are well documented elsewhere but it was caused by an inner torpedo tube door being opened whilst the outer door was also open to the sea. This resulted in the forward torpedo room being flooded and the boat sank by the bow but a small section of her stern remained above the water. Despite desperate rescue attempts 99 men died in the Thetis with only 4 escaping. As well as her normal crew there were many civilians from the builders, Cammel Laird, as well as other RN personnel on board.

Thetis was later raised and put into service as HMS Thunderbolt. She was sunk again, as a result of enemy action, on 14th March 1943 with all hands.

Hope this helps

[dmp1975]

John, thankyou very much for taking the time out to give me that information, any snippet helps me appreciate what my grandfather was up to during his RN years.

Kind Regards
DMP

[rimbo]

CPO or PO, (not sure which one) Patrick Joseph Ryan

Can anybody help, i am desperately tring to find out information about my Grandfather who served throughout WW2, i am currently waiting on the records office, and they are taking an absolute age. i have some very patchy information on my grandfather as he never spoke to much of the War, i think he once told me he was on mine sweepers, and/or worked in the turrets of the big naval guns as a CPO or PO, cant remember which one, he came from Galway on the West coast of Ireland and joined the Navy pre war, he also remained a while after the war, after the war he settled with my grandmother in Barnsley South Yorkshire, until he died sadly in 1994 age 76.

I have his medals, which i treasure and they are:
1. 1939-1945 Star
2. Atlantic Star, with France and Germany Bar.
3. Italy Star
4. The Defence Medal.
5. And the War Medal (King George), this medal has a Bronze Oakleaf on the Ribbon, i understand this to be a MID, and i am desperate to find out what for, as he never mentioned it.

i aslo heard him speak very briefly about a Royal Navy submarine incident in Liverpool Harbour which he witnessed, i know that this information is vague, but i would appreciate any snippet of information about where he may of served and on which ships, i am only waiting for some facts before i can frame the medals appropriately and hang them pride of place in my home.

Regards.

Hi DMP,
As you mentioned MID i think you might have some luck checking out the newspapers around the time ie. the times.Most MID's were mentioned in the papers.

all the best