On the 1st of June last, an old school contemporary of the writer, in the person of John Augustus George Ryrie, of Penally, Gulargambone, N.S.W., played his last chukka, being accidentally killed during a game of polo at Gilgandra.
Jack Ryrie, as he was familiarly known amongst his numerous friends, was born on Weemabah Station, Trangie, being one of three sons of the late Mr. John Cassels Ryrie. He was educated at The King's School, where he distinguished himself at both his studies and in the football and cricket fields. On leaving school he devoted his leisure hours to rowing, and in 1912 rowed bow in the Australian crew at the Olympic Games, where that crew won the Grand Challenge Cup.
In January 1915 he sailed for England and enlisted in the 4th Staffordshire Regiment, seeing active service in France, where he was wounded. Recovering, he was granted a commission in the Machine Gun Corps, and saw further active service in Palestine, during which time he was mentioned in despatches.
After the armistice he returned to Australia, and settled down at Penally Station. He is survived by his wife and three little daughters, to whom sincere sympathy is extended. Jack Ryrie was a true gentleman, and his sudden death has been a severe blow to all who knew him.
Vacy, 'Ryrie, John Augustus George (Jack) (1888–1927)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/ryrie-john-augustus-george-jack-1434/text1434, accessed 27 July 2024.