Gilgandra, NSW
Depot
6th Light Horse
Gilgandra Coo-ee
Discharged 30.11.1917
Private Tyson Ryan N21449
Tyson ‘Chicken’ Ryan was an 18 year old horse trainer of Gilgandra when he passed his medical examination by Dr Peet in Gilgandra on October 30 1915. He was described as 5’8” tall, weighed 9st 3lb (58kgs) with dark complexion, blue eyes and black hair. He was Roman Catholic and had 3 vaccination marks on his left arm, a tattoo on his right forearm and a large rectangular scar on his right thigh. The recruiting officer accepted him in Lawson on the 7th November and he marched to Sydney with the Coo-ee March. At Liverpool he was attached to the 6th Light Horse.
He remained at the depot but his behaviour was deemed less than satisfactory. By the time he was discharged in May 1916 he had a string of offences against him. Absent without leave several times, neglect of duty and assaulting a policeman during a riot in January, he was penalised 10 pound.
He tried to enlist again in the District of Darling on the June 29 1917 but was rejected.
A proceeding of the Medical Board at Victoria Barracks on November 30 1917 found him to be unfit for active service because of vision problems due to Trachoma.
‘Chicken’ Ryan was a ‘fighter’ and known to police because of his behaviour. Over the years he was charged with assaulting a policeman, riotous behaviour, jailed for assault and robbery and later in life he was charged and found guilty of murder. The community must have felt sorry for him because they raised 67 pounds to help him.
He was a well-known figure working around Gilgandra until his death in 1976 at the age of 79 and is buried in the Gilgandra Cemetery where his wife and parents are buried.
He is commemorated on the Gilgandra Coo-ee Memorial Gateway.