Source: Per post by family member at Canadian Military Photos Lost and Found – Research Group.
Enlisted with the 91st Battalion at St. Thomas, Ontario on 24 January 1916. He was married to Mary Elizabeth Ryan resident at Blenheim, Ontario. He was a janitor and stood 5’7″ tall. He was of the Roman Catholic faith and claimed prior military experience having indicated 11 years with the Territorials. He also had 1 year experience with the local Canadian Militia unit, the 24th Kents.
He has two children, a boy, Harold Samuel Ryan, 4 years old and a girl, Kathleen Ryan, 6 years old. He is insured by the Royal Liverpool Company and he assigns $20.00 of his monthly pay to his wife, later to be raised to $25.00.
Upon enlistment he was transferred to the 186th Battalion effective 22 February, 1916. May men of the 91st helped to bolster the ranks of the 186th Battalion so it could complete its complement of soldiers so it could be sent to England for training. Most battalions of this time hoped to be kept together and fight with one of the 4 Canadian Divisions that made up the Canadian Corps.
His prior military service singled him out for consideration as a sergeant and he attened a school in London, Ontario in May 1916 and returned June from school and was made a Provisional or Provost Sergeant effective 30 June 1916.
The 186th embarked for Liverpool on 25, March 1917 and arrived there on 7 April 1918. He was sent to a segregation camp at Bramshott that day and was transferred to the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion. By 15 May 1917 he was appointed a Acting Corporal with pay and then was assigned to the Battalion for Young Soldiers at Bexhill on 3 September 1917 and is to be an Acting Sergeant with pay. He his promoted to an Acting Company Sergeant Major on 10 October 1917.
From his point he is reverted to lower ranks in preparation for being sent for active service with a line battalion.
On 24 July 1918 he reverts to the rank of Private and 2-months later is sent to the Canadian Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, France. He then is sent to the next stage of training and preparation for combat duty when he was sent ot the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp on 1 November 1918.
The next day, 10 days before the Armistice, he is sent for service with the 18th Battalion.
He serves with the 18th from that day until it is officially disbanded at London, Ontario on 24 May 1919. He was with the 18th from November 1918 to May 1919. He is discharged in London due to demobilization.
13 February 1922 an address update card showed his address as P.O. Box 180. Blenheim, Ontario.
He passes on 10 May 1967 and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery at Blenheim, Ontario.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 