Lives of the First World War

Donald Ryley was educated at Sir Roger Manwood‟s Grammar School and later at St Olave‟s, Southwark. In May 1912 he was awarded an exhibition to read Classics at St John‟s College, Cambridge, joining the Cambridge University Officer Training Corps as a private soldier in October 1912. However, he was never awarded his degree, applying instead for a special reserve commission in the Army on 26 August 1914. Posted initially to 1/8th Manchester Regiment (Territorial Forces), he saw service in Gallipoli from 20 October 1915, it being noted that he did ‘good reconnaissance work in Turkish trenches’. On 29 August 1916 he was ‘order[ed] home from Egypt by first public opportunity’, joining 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, with a permanent commission, on 12 October 1916. On 15 February 1917 Donald Ryley‟s paternal grandfather – given by both sons as their next-of-kin while their father was in the United States – was sent a telegram by the War Office informing him that his grandson was „missing‟. This distressing news was also reported in The Times on 20 February. On 21 August 1917 G. B. Ryley wrote to the War Office, noting that ‘since then we have heard nothing, save that by private enquiry we find his brother Officers & others believe him to be killed’. Three days later the War Office replied that no trace of Donald Ryley‟s fate had been discovered, despite searches of hospital and internment camps in Germany under the auspices of the Netherlands Legation. On 13 September 1917 C. F. Watherston of C.2 Casualties Department at the War Office wrote to H. B. Ryley: I am directed to inform you that it is regretted that no further report has been received concerning Lieutenant D. A. G. B. Ryley, The North Staffordshire Regiment, reported Missing 11th February, 1917. It is regretted that it will consequently be necessary for the Army Council to consider whether they must not now conclude that this officer is dead. Notice of his presumed death appeared in The Times on 8 November 1917. Lieutenant Donald Ryley is now officially recorded as having been killed in action near Hulluch in France and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial since he has also no known grave.

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