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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: mmm45 on Monday 25 July 16 09:51 BST (UK)
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Hi
Can anyone help me find information for James Ryan he was awarded a George Medal in 1941 for shooting down a German Bomber from a trawler or tug boat near Hull.
He was Merchant Navy.
Thanks.
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"James Ryan, First Mate.
The ship was attacked by an enemy aircraft, which came upon her from astern, circled round and three times attacked her from ahead. Mr Ryan, at his gun, held his fire until the last moment and brought down the aircraft.
Meanwhile, the Master, Captain Jones, out-manoeuvred the enemy, and his good seamanship undoubtedly helped to save the ship."
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35064/supplement/687/data.pdf
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It was the tug
Empire Jonathon ( Jonathan?) according to this story in the Hull Daily Mail http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/rescue-tug-crew-valiant-war-effort/story-11963751-detail/story.html
EDIT it was the tug Seaman
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It was the tug SEAMAN.
Steam Tug. United Towing Co. 369 tons Built in 1924. Hired as Rescue Tug from December 1939.
London Gazette 4 February 1941 - For services during an air attack and for the destruction of an enemy aircraft.
Jones, Owen Vincent - Captain - OBE(Civ)
Ryan, James - Mate - George Medal
Suddaby, George - Seaman - Commendation.
Regards
Hugh
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I stand corrected. I hadn't read the story properly. It was indeed the Seaman.
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Google books
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zRUIDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA106&lpg=PA106&dq=oberleutnant+burmeister+1941&source=bl&ots=SDrGbnEstA&sig=rqGaUDeKL3OdkgaPo11ar5Kqf_M&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjIu_ONsI7OAhXLbxQKHV7wCYoQ6AEIJzAC#v=onepage&q=oberleutnant%20burmeister%201941&f=false
Cathy
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So under the name Jimmy, several results on google, hard to find any info as to identify Jimmy s year and place of birth as yet though.
Cathy
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Possibly James Ryan R238724 Born 26 Feb 1896 Goole
Ship H ? Seaman
Discharged 1946
(merchant seamans card)
I think if he had a son George (see earlier newspaper report) then he possibly married Ada Lowthorpe in 1915, Hull and had a son George W in 1935.
Not allowed to give details but this would all tally with the 1939 Register.
Cathy
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Absolutely fantastic response thank you. Now to try and trace the medal. Last seen on display at Eden Camp near Malton.It wasn't there earlier this year.
Ill try contacting them to start with.
Ady
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Hi MMM45 - I realise this is a late reply to the thread, but James Ryan was my great Grandfather. I have a wealth of information on him covering service in both wars, newspaper and book cuttings for the GM incident, details on his involvement in Op PLUTO etc - far too much to post on here. Do you have a specific area of interest I can help with?
Chris
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I am sure you will already have his service record information from WW2. As he was a T124T merchant seaman, he retained MN pay and conditions but was effectively under RN control. His service record is held at Kew in piece BT 390/215/45 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9117799
For service prior to WW2, he has some records: 1 x CR10 card with photo, 2 x CR1 cards (MN records - Fourth Register of Seamen).
His CR1 shows he was later the master of H.M.R.T. SEAMAN in 1946.
Regards
Hugh
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Thanks Hugh we did find quite a bit online.
Chris I was asking on behalf of one of your extended family who used to come over to Hull she was under the mistaken belief she had seen the GM in Eden Camp but this is now known to be wrong as its with family in Hull.
When you have enough posts I'll PM you with her details.
Ady
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I am sure you will already have his service record information from WW2. As he was a T124T merchant seaman, he retained MN pay and conditions but was effectively under RN control. His service record is held at Kew in piece BT 390/215/45 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9117799
For service prior to WW2, he has some records: 1 x CR10 card with photo, 2 x CR1 cards (MN records - Fourth Register of Seamen).
His CR1 shows he was later the master of H.M.R.T. SEAMAN in 1946.
Regards
Hugh
Thanks Hugh - i'll have to have a look next time I'm in London. I think I have most of it, but will never know unless I check haha. I believe as well as going on to be the Master of SEAMEN, he was also Master in H.M.R.T DANUBE V towing the cable spool during Op PLUTO, H.M.R.T NIMBLE and H.M.R.T STORM KING towing Mulberry Harbour during D-Day Ops.
Thanks,
Chris
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Hi
I have just come across this post regarding James Ryan (Merchant Navy) regarding his service and subsequent award of the George Medal. There was an earlier mention of James in 1921 when he dived overboard from a United Towing tug to take part in the rescue of survivors from the Airship R.38 that crashed into the River Humber. He was credited with saving the commander of the airship Flight Lt. A Wann, who later visited James at his home to thank him personally. This information came from my late father who witnessed the airship crash into the Humber and later his brother Joseph Piercy married the sister of James Ryan wife Ada.
After the 2nd World War James took part in the radio program called "Shipmates Ashore" presented from Liverpool by Doris Hare, known as the "Merchant Navy Sweetheart". Doris later found fame as Mum in the TV comedy show "On the Buses"
James Ryan certainly had a eventful life.
Best regards Eddie P
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Thanks that's really interesting and will pass it on to his relative.
Ady