Photograph of Jeremiah Ryan; postcard of battleship; certificate of discharge; official details of his service record. || This the story of Able Seaman Jeremiah Ryan, contributed by his grandson Johnny Donnelly. Jeremiah Ryan was born in Dublin in 1892, and joined the Royal Navy in 1910. He saw action during WWI on HMS Vivid, Zealandia, Arrogant and Pactolus amongst others, and was invalided out of the navy in 1922.

There were four Hanton brothers altogether that joined up for the war. Thomas was the eldest, then Patrick, then Robert, and the youngest was my grandfather, Peter. Their parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Hanton of Emmet Place, Wexford. Patrick and Robert were in the navy and Peter and Thomas were in the army. Thomas served in France and Robert served as a Stoker on board the HMS Prince Edward, a packet steamer called into service during the war as a net-layer to protect ports against submarines. Patrick was also a Stoker in the Royal Naval Reserve, Anson Battalion and died in Malta on 2 January 1916 as a result of injuries received during operations in the Dardenelles. My grandfather, Peter was injured in the war but recovered and was sent back. He lived to a good old age. I got Patrick's and Peter's medals when my father died but the fact that family members had fought in WW1 was not really talked about. || Newspaper article 'Sons of the Empire.; Patrick's memory card; Patrick's medals; Peter's medals || || Western Front || Other || Thomas, Patrick, Robert and Peter Hanton || The four Hanton brothers || || Patrick Hanton || Official document || Battalion memorial card for Patrick Hanton || || Patrick Hanton, 1914 Star || Medal || Patrick Hanton, Star Medal || || Naval Warfare || Patrick Hanton, 1914 Star, reverse || Patrick Hanton, Star Medal, reverse || Medal || || Patrick Hanton, British War Medal || Medal || Naval Warfare || || Patrick Hanton British War Medal, reverse || Patrick Hanton, British War Medal, reverse || Naval Warfare || Medal || || Patrick Hanton, Victory Medal || Naval Warfare || Medal || || Medal || Naval Warfare || Patrick Hanton, Victory Medal, reverse || || Peter Hanton, 1914-15 Star || Peter Hanton, Star Medal || Medal || Western Front || || Peter Hanton, 1914-15 Star, reverse || Medal || Peter Hanton, Star Medal, reverse || Western Front || || Peter Hanton, British War Medal || Medal || Peter Hanton, lBritish War Medal || Western Front || || Peter Hanton, British War Medal, reverse || Medal || Western Front || || Western Front || Peter Hanton, Victory Medal || Medal || || Back || Peter Hanton, Victory Medal, reverse || Medal || Western Front

Story: Joseph Roberts was born in 1894, the son of Robert and Margaret Roberts, South Main Street, Wexford, Ireland. He married Annie Walsh in 1915 and they had one daughter, Margaret (contributor Anne Kirwan’s mother). They lived at 9 Bride Place in Wexford town. He joined the army at age 22, signing up to the South Lancashire Regiment in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, service number 31442. Joseph is mentioned on the family gravestone in St Ibar’s Cemetery, Crosstown, Wexford as having been killed in France. His body was not recovered but Anne Kirwan discovered his name on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium. However on visiting the area she found that Joseph had been killed in action on Ravensberg Hill near Bailleul, near the French-Belgian border, on 14 April 1918. Joseph’s war record was never mentioned in the family, perhaps because in Ireland during and after the War of Independence, there was a sense of unease about family members who had served in the British Army. || Photograph of Joseph Roberts in uniform; Death Plaque || || Photograph || Joseph Roberts in uniform || Joseph Roberts || Joseph Roberts in the uniform of the South Lancashire Regiment. || || Death Plaque, Joseph Roberts || Joseph Roberts || Medal