Lieutenant Evan Ryrie

1. Lieutenant, 15th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1916-11-23 to 1917-07-19
2. Lieutenant (Army). 1915-11-18 to 1916-11-22
3. Lieutenant, 20th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1915-05-09 to 1915-11-17

Son of Harry and Christine (Whittet) Ryrie, of Highlands Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.

War Diary of the 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion for July 18, 1917 states: "In the evening the Battalion moved into the Front Line "LOOS Sector" and relieved the 10th. Can. Battalion. There was quite a lot of shelling of the roads on the way in, but we had very few casualties. Lieut. Ryrie was killed while coming along a C.T.". Diary entry is for the 18th, however it was the evening when the relief was taking place and time of death could have been late on the 18th or early on the 19th.

University of Toronto Roll of Service 1914-1918 (1921) included the following biography:

EVAN RYRIE Feb. 15, 1894 - July 18, 1917
Lieutenant, Fifteenth Battalion.
Son of the late Harry Ryrie; b. Toronto; ed. Model School, Toronto, Trinity College School; University College 1911-13; U.C. Athletic executive; College Junior Rugby Team; Second Rugby colours; Zeta Psi; Canadian Bank of Commerce; 48th Regt., Lieut.
He was appointed in May 1915 to the 20th Battalion, and went overseas the same month. He reached France in September and served on the front south of Ypres till November, when he was taken ill. After being in hospital for five months he returned home on leave in March 1916. Returning to France in December he joined the 15th Battalion and served on the Vimy front and through the battle of April and subsequent engagements south of Lens. He was killed in action on July 18th, 1917, near Lens when conducting a party back of the lines. Buried at Hersin.

Torontonensis 1913 - photograph

Canadian Bank of Commerce, Letters from the Front, Vol. 2, Roll of Honour, pg. 392:

RYRIE, EVAN--Lieutenant. Born 15th February, 1894, at Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Father, Harry Ryrie, Jeweller (deceased). Educated at Trinity College School, Port Hope, and Toronto University. Entered the service of the Bank, 23rd February, 1915. Left Spadina & College, Toronto, branch, to take up military duty 10th May, 1915. Enlisted in 48th Highlanders of Canada, with the rank of Lieutenant. Transferred to 15th Canadian Battalion, about October, 1916.

Killed in Action, near Lens, 18th July, 1917.

Toronto Star - 22 January 1916:

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ryrie sailed for England on Wednesday to see their son, Mr. Evan Ryrie, who is recovering from a serious illness.

Source: Attestation Papers - Religion, Baptist or Congregationalist

Source: Letters from the Front, Volume 2, Canadian Bank of Commerce

Source: 20th Battalion Gazette, December 1915 - C Company

Source: The History of the Twentieth Canadian Battalion, 1935, by Major D.J. Corrigall

Source: Toronto Star - "Brilliant Career Ended", published 23 July 1917 and photograph.

20th Bn., France, 15 September 1915 - 17 November 1915.

15th Bn., France, 23 November 1916 - 19 July 1917.