Francis Henry Ryniker

Personal Information
Date of Birth	30 May 1887
Place of Birth	Cranbourne, Victoria
Death	3 Mar 1961
Place of Death	Claremont, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	28 years, 3 months
Description	5'8½" (1.74m) tall; weight 148 lbs (67.1 kg); dark complexion, grey eyes, dark hair.
Occupation	orchardist
Religion	Methodist
Address	'Rockbank', Bedfordale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Charles Alexander Ryniker
Military Information
Reg Number	2789
Date of Enlistment	13 Aug 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement transferred to D Company, 51st Battalion / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	2 Nov 1915 - 26 Nov 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Date of Return	5 Mar 1919 - 13 Apr 1919
Ship Returned On	HMHS Nevasa
Fate	Missing in Action 3 Sep 1916, later Prisoner of War Mouquet Farm. Returned to Australia.
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (Bedfordale panel) Bedfordale Roll of Honour Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries - 1910 "Rockbank" Bedfordale, orchardist.

War Service

Two months after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Francis was allocated to the 6th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, and following the conclusion of their basic training they travelled to Egypt.

In Egypt, Francis was reallocated from the Training Battalion to the newly formed 51st Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 3 Mar 1916.

On 5 Jun 1916 he proceeded with the battalion from Alexandria on HMT Ivernia, arriving in Marseilles on 12 Jun 1916.

Captured at Mouquet Farm itself on 3 Sep 1916, he was sent to Dulmen in Westphalia via Cambrai on the 16th Sep 1916, before being moved on to Lager I at Munster in November 1916. At the conclusion of hostilities, he was repatriated to England, arriving in Hull on 7 Dec 1918, and London on 9 Dec 1918. Francis was granted leave from 11 Dec 1918 till 11 Jan 1919 before reporting to No 2 Command Depot to begin processing for return to Australia.

Disembarked at Portland, Victoria and travelled by rail to Perth before being discharged by 5th Military District on 13 Jun 1919.

"...He was drafted to the 51st battalion, and went to Tel-el-Kebir. He went to France in June 1916, took part in a number of fights, was reported missing, but it was subsequently ascertained that he was a prisoner of war in Dulmen, Westfalia, Germany, from which his parents have received communications."

Mr C.A. Ryniker, Bedfordale has received word from the Military Department that his only son, Private F.H. Ryniker, 51st Battalion has been reported missing in France since September 3. Private Ryniker had been in the trenches since the middle of June of this year.

Frank wrote a letter to his parents which was reported in the same paper on 18 Dec 1916

"Just a few lines to let you know I am well, and hope you are all the same, and that you are not worrying too much over me, as before you receive this letter you will know that I am a prisoner of war. We are not allowed to use any paper but what we buy here. I got this paper given to me by one of the chaps that had some money to buy some. I have a few post cards left, and when they are done, will have to do without writing, as I am, like most of the others without money. Some of my own battalion are here besides myself. I would very much like to tell you how I came to be captured, but it would take too much paper, so must wait until I get home again. I would like you to send me a parcel now and again, such as tinned meat or fish, biscuits, oatmeal, tea, sugar, soap an cigarettes, but no matches. That would be a great help to us. When you are sending parcels, pack them in a box. All parcels are opened in front of us when they arrive. You can send parcels up to 11 lb through the Red cross, postage free, and we will get them all right. My only wish now that I am out of action is that the war will soon be over and then I will be back with you all again."

Post War

Married Anna (Nance) Harper in Canning District in 1924. Anna died 28 May 1952 aged 62.

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1928 orchardist, Bedfordale with Anna. 1931 a labourer with Anna at 32 Stafford street, Victoria Park; 1936- 1937 gardener at Pickering Brook; 1943 at 51 Horden street, Victoria Park; 1958 a pensioner at 68 Leopard street, Victoria Park.

The Listening Post April 1961 reports Frank's death - at the time he was a member of the Victoria Park sub-branch of the RSL. Given death was registered in Claremont, possible place of death was the Repatriation hospital.

Children were Bill, Ian and Jim (who m. Doris; Ch. Kathleen, Kevin, Carol & Murray)

Bedfordale property sale: Tenders Returnable at Perth, 9 Jun 1928. 24/1215. Canning Locations 465 and 525, and portion of Canning Location 32, and being Lot 5 on Diagram 3459, the whole of the land comprised in Certificate of Title, Vol. 304, Fol. 48, Vol. 550, Fol. 106, and Lease 10007/55, standing in the name of Francis Henry Ryniker. Area, 113½ acres, situated at Bedfordale, 4 miles south-east from Armadale, described as 9 acres orchard, 1 acre summer land, 45 acres gravelly, balance iron stony, 6 acres orchard, quality fencing, 6 roomed house, J.W.B. and iron, stable, cart and hay shed, and chaff house combined with man's room, general packing shed and motor garage. Stock and plant that may be in our possession and belonging to the place at the time of the purchase.

Served with Regimental No W26227 in the militia during WW2

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial