[Index]
Granville de Laune RYRIE (1865 - 1937)
Grazier, soldier, commander, Member of Parliament, High Commissioner
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Gwendolyn Granville RYRIE (1897 - 1963)
Marjorie Granville RYRIE (1897 - )
James Arthur Granville RYRIE (1911 - )
 Granville de Laune RYRIE (1865 - 1937)

+

Mary Frances Gwendolyn MCFARLAND (1871 - 1949)
 Alexander RYRIE (1827 - 1909) Stewart RYRIE (1778 - 1852) Alexander RYRIE
Anne STEWART
Isabella CASSELS (1802 - 1855) John CASSELS
Isabella NIELSON
Charlotte FAUNCE (1836 - 1913) Alured Tasker FAUNCE (1808 - 1856) Alured Dodsworth FAUNCE
Anna Maria GODDARD
Elizabeth MACKENZIE (1816 - 1902) John Kenneth MACKENZIE (1793 - 1857)
Charlotte SOLOMON (1799 - 1875)
Granville de Laune RYRIE Mary Frances Gwendolyn MCFARLAND
Granville de Laune RYRIE Granville de Laune RYRIE Granville de Laune RYRIE Granville de Laune RYRIE
Granville de Laune RYRIE Mary Frances Gwendolyn MCFARLAND Granville de Laune RYRIE Granville de Laune RYRIE Granville de Laune RYRIE Granville de Laune RYRIE
b. 01 Jul 1865 at Michelago, New South Wales, Australia
m. 1896 Mary Frances Gwendolyn MCFARLAND (1871 - 1949) at Sydenham, New South Wales, Australia
d. 02 Oct 1937 at Newtown, New South Wales, Australia aged 72
Near Relatives of Granville de Laune RYRIE (1865 - 1937)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Grandfather Stewart RYRIE 1778 Caithness, Scotland 11 Dec 1852 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia 74
Grandmother Isabella CASSELS 1802 Scotland 12 May 1855 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia 53
Grandfather Alured Tasker FAUNCE 1808 Colchester, Essex, England 26 Apr 1856 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 48
Grandmother Elizabeth MACKENZIE 1816 St Omer, France 08 Dec 1902 Glebe, New South Wales, Australia 86

Father in Law Alfred MCFARLAND
Mother in Law Janette JEFFREYS

Father Alexander RYRIE abt 1827 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 29 May 1909 Paddington, New South Wales, Australia 82
Mother Charlotte FAUNCE 1836 Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia 25 Feb 1913 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 77

Self Granville de Laune RYRIE 01 Jul 1865 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 02 Oct 1937 Newtown, New South Wales, Australia 72

Wife Mary Frances Gwendolyn MCFARLAND 1871 1949 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 78

Daughter Gwendolyn Granville RYRIE 1897 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 29 Nov 1963 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 66
Daughter Marjorie Granville RYRIE 1897 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Son James Arthur Granville RYRIE 1911 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sister Cassels C RYRIE 1861 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Sister Edith E RYRIE 1862 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 09 Nov 1891 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 29
Sister Tasker Faunce RYRIE 1864 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 1864 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 0
Sister Alison F RYRIE 1867 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia
Brother William Moodie RYRIE 1869 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 07 Dec 1915 Paddington, New South Wales, Australia 46
Brother Vincent Wallace RYRIE 1871 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 08 Dec 1950 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 79
Brother Stanley Stewart RYRIE 1873 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 1945 Canberra, ACT, Australia 72
Sister Evelyn Charlotte RYRIE 1875 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia

Aunt Elizabeth RYRIE 1802 Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
Uncle William RYRIE 1805 Thurso, Caithness, Scotland 1856 Trochraigne, Ayrshire, Scotland 51
Aunt Marrianne H CASSELS 1816 Amprior, Perthshire, Scotland 1876 Burwood, New South Wales, Australia 60
Uncle James RYRIE 1806 Thurso, Caithness, Scotland 12 Nov 1840 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 34
Uncle Donald Horne RYRIE 1810 Thurso, Caithness, Scotland 01 Aug 1888 Jindabyne, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia 78
Aunt Jane Millar SALMON 17 Jan 1830 22 Sep 1913 Berridale, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia 83
Uncle Stewart RYRIE 1812 Thurso, Caithness, Scotland 14 Oct 1882 Yass, New South Wales, Australia 70
Aunt Janet MACKENZIE 1822 Scotland 29 Apr 1893 Petersham, New South Wales, Australia 71
Aunt Jane RYRIE 1815 Thurso, Caithness, Scotland 30 Jun 1850 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 35
Uncle Francis Lascalles WALLACE 1811 Dumfries, Dumfries-shire, Scotland 23 Jan 1852 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia 41
Uncle John Cassels RYRIE 1826 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Jun 1900 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia 74
Aunt Patricia WILLIAMS
Aunt Mary Ann SALMON 1848 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 03 Jun 1916 Versailles, France 68
Uncle David RYRIE 1829 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 13 Jul 1893 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 64
Aunt Ellen Eliza FAUNCE 1838 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1902 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia 64
Uncle Alured Dodsworth FAUNCE 1840 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 14 Jul 1910 Newtown, New South Wales, Australia 70
Aunt Henrietta Charlotte Maunsel BLAKE 14 Jun 1925 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Aunt Marie Elizabeth FAUNCE 1844 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1852 8
Uncle Granville FAUNCE 1845 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1859 14
Uncle Thomas Trasker FAUNCE 1847 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Uncle Kenneth Mackenzie FAUNCE 1849 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Uncle Arthur Barrett FAUNCE 1851 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Uncle Edmond Bonham FAUNCE 1854 Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia 1871 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 17
Uncle Richard Alma FAUNCE 1855 Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia

Cousin Anne RYRIE 1849 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin John RYRIE 1850 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Helen RYRIE 1852 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Toonie RYRIE
Cousin Stewart Donald RYRIE 1858 Kalkite, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Wallace RYRIE 1860 Kalkite, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Agnes Jane RYRIE 1862 Windsor, Berkshire, England
Cousin Margaret Mary RYRIE 1863 Windsor, Berkshire, England
Cousin Elizabeth (Tiny) RYRIE 1866 Kalkite, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Cecil James RYRIE 1869 Kalkite, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Charlotte RYRIE 1846 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia 25 Feb 1913 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 67
Cousin Stewart Mackenzie RYRIE 1848 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Jessie J RYRIE 1849 Jindabyne, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin John K RYRIE 1852 Jindabyne, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin William D RYRIE 1854 Jindabyne, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Amy Ann L RYRIE 1856 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Alice May RYRIE 1859 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Emma Lucy RYRIE 1862 Jindabyne, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Stewart Ryrie WALLACE 1841 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Mary WALLACE 1842 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia 1842 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia 0
Cousin Mary Elizabeth WALLACE 1848
Cousin Francis L RYRIE 1870 New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Emily Maud RYRIE 1872 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Ethel C RYRIE 1873 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Frederick S M RYRIE 1875 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Sydney Villiers RYRIE 1876 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia 1877 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia 1
Cousin Archibald Nelson RYRIE 1878 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Kathleen Isabella RYRIE 1880 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Ella Rosa RYRIE 1881 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Charles Edward Irby RYRIE 1883 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin John Alexander George RYRIE 1886 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Elizabeth A RYRIE 1868 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Ida E RYRIE 1869 Bombala, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Edwin Alick RYRIE 1871 Bombala, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Reginald Faunce RYRIE 1873 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Herbert D RYRIE 1875 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Oswald Bruce RYRIE 1876 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Harold S RYRIE 1878 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Ellen F RYRIE 1881 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Aline M De Laune RYRIE 1882 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Winifred L RYRIE 1886 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Henrietta E FAUNCE 1865 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Alured Tasker FAUNCE 1868 Burwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Isidore Blake FAUNCE 1870 Burwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Henry de Laune FAUNCE 1872 Bega, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Robert Ritchie Alma FAUNCE 1874 Bega, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Eyre M FAUNCE 1877 Bega, New South Wales, Australia 1877 Bega, New South Wales, Australia 0
Cousin Marcus Gordon FAUNCE 1885 Yass, New South Wales, Australia 13 Jan 1958 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 73

Niece Isabel D RYRIE 1903 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Neil A RYRIE 1905 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William L RYRIE 1909 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Jean E RYRIE 1912 Michelago, New South Wales, Australia

Sister in Law Grace Mary Pegus DUDLEY abt 1880 Jun 1945 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 65
Events in Granville de Laune RYRIE (1865 - 1937)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
01 Jul 1865 Granville de Laune RYRIE was born Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 6
1896 31 Married Mary Frances Gwendolyn MCFARLAND (aged 25) Sydenham, New South Wales, Australia 6
1897 32 Birth of daughter Gwendolyn Granville RYRIE Sydney, New South Wales, Australia twin 6
1897 32 Birth of daughter Marjorie Granville RYRIE Sydney, New South Wales, Australia twin 6
29 May 1909 43 Death of father Alexander RYRIE (aged 82) Paddington, New South Wales, Australia 6
1911 46 Birth of son James Arthur Granville RYRIE Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 6
25 Feb 1913 47 Death of mother Charlotte FAUNCE (aged 77) Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 6
02 Oct 1937 72 Granville de Laune RYRIE died Newtown, New South Wales, Australia 6
Burial Michelago, New South Wales, Australia 6
Personal Notes:
Australian Dictionary of Biography
Sir Granville de Laune Ryrie (1865-1937), grazier, politician and soldier, was born on 1 July 1865 at Micalago, Michelago, New South Wales, son of Alexander Ryrie, grazier and member of the Legislative Assembly (1880-91) and legislative councillor (1892-1909), and his wife Charlotte, née Faunce, both New South Wales born. He was educated at Mittagong and at The King's School, Parramatta (1878-83), after which he gained experience for several years as a jackeroo in the north-western back-country. Rejoicing in life in the outback, Ryrie became a notable horseman, an expert shot with the rifle and a formidable boxer; he was later twice runner-up in the New South Wales amateur heavyweight championship. He had also closely studied the Aborigines and learned a language.

Ryrie took over the management of Micalago, a 35,000-acre (14,162 ha) grazing and cattle-breeding property. On 18 February 1896 he married Mary Frances Gwendoline, daughter of Judge McFarland, at St Thomas's Anglican Church, North Sydney; they had twin daughters and a son. Ryrie joined the volunteer movement as a trooper but it was not until 1898 that he was commissioned second lieutenant in the 1st Australian Horse. He served in the South African War, initially as a captain, with the 6th (New South Wales) Imperial Bushmen from May 1900 to June 1901. They first saw action, briefly, in Rhodesia, then in the Transvaal, Cape and Orange River colonies. Ryrie was severely wounded in September 1900 at Wonderfontein and was promoted honorary major in November.

Returning to Micalago in July 1901 he resumed his service in the 1st Australian Horse which, in the reorganization of 1903, was renamed the 3rd Light Horse Regiment. In October 1904 he became commanding officer and was promoted lieutenant-colonel. Ryrie commanded his regiment for seven years. In the same period he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as member for Queanbeyan in April 1906; it is said that in his election campaign he wooed the electors with 'rollicking ballads sung to his own accompaniment'. He resigned in February 1910 to contest, unsuccessfully, the Federal seat of Werriwa, then in October the State seat of Cootamundra held by W. A. Holman, leader of the Labor opposition, who won narrowly. In 1911, however, Ryrie entered Federal parliament as member for North Sydney where he established a very strong following. He had a reputation for blunt, forceful speaking, ready humour and common sense; though a downright Tory, he mixed easily with all sections of the community.

Soon after the outbreak of war, on 17 September 1914 Ryrie was given command of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, as brigadier general. His constituents presented him with a charger, Plain Bill, which came to be regarded as the finest horse in all the mounted regiments.

On arrival in Egypt, Ryrie's brigade and the 3rd Light Horse Brigade became corps troops under the control of Lieutenant-General (Lord) Birdwood, but when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps left for Gallipoli the light horse remained in Egypt. The brigadiers resisted Birdwood's attempts to have their men sent as reinforcements for the infantry and Ryrie, in spite of the objections of two of his three unit commanders, volunteered his brigade as a dismounted unit as the other brigadiers had done. So on 19 May 1915 Ryrie landed at Anzac and his regiments were attached to the brigades of the 1st Division.

As Brigadier General (Sir) H. B. Walker was doubtful of the capacity of Ryrie and his staff at this juncture, he sent Captain W. J. Foster, an outstanding young Australian regular officer, to act as Ryrie's brigade major. A month later, when his brigade was concentrated and allotted the southernmost section of the Anzac position, Ryrie's common sense and prudence were making an impression. Within the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, 'the old Brig' or 'Bull' held an unassailable position, won not only by his warm, human qualities, but also by his willingness to share the hard rations as well as the hardships of Gallipoli. His calm courage and cheerfulness won his men's admiration and their approval was sealed when it became known that he had protested against an attack order by Divisional Headquarters. Ryrie's knowledge of the ground and the enemy made it clear to him that the proposed attack must be a costly failure; he won his point. 'He was, in camp and in action, the trusted father of his men'.

Ryrie was twice wounded on Gallipoli, remaining on duty on the second occasion. He held the southernmost positions at Anzac until the withdrawal in December and had the satisfaction of having a new position, dug by his men on Holly Ridge, named Ryrie's Post.

When the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division (known as Anzac Mounted) was formed in March 1916 under Major General (Sir) Harry Chauvel, Ryrie's brigade was in the outposts east of the Suez Canal until they joined the division at Salhia. After a sudden Turkish raid overwhelmed British outposts in April, Ryrie was ordered into Sinai and thus began the long advance that was to end for him near Amman in Jordan in September 1918. Soon after establishing his brigade around Romani, Ryrie obtained leave to attend an Empire Parliamentary Conference in London. This, while not enhancing his reputation at higher headquarters, deprived him of the chance of leading his troops in the crucial victory at Romani in August 1916. He was back in mid-September but as 2nd Light Horse Brigade was enjoying a rest period he did not see any major action until the attack on Gaza in March 1917. There his 5th Regiment fought its way into the town by nightfall so that Ryrie and all others were astounded when Anzac Mounted was ordered to withdraw. He refused to move back until every man of his brigade had been collected.

Ryrie took part in the battle for Beersheba on 31 October 1917, the advance through Palestine, the Amman raid of 23 March–2 April 1918, and the so-called Es Salt raid of 30 April–4 May, which was no raid but a full battle of the reinforced Desert Mounted Corps. In the last great battle which began on 19 September, Ryrie crossed the Jordan for the third time, taking part in the capture of Amman and the surrender of 5000 Turks at Ziza on 29 September. Ryrie allowed the Turks to keep their arms and artillery to save them from hordes of vengeful Arab tribesmen and he with his regiments bivouacked with the Turks. Next day, after the arrival of the New Zealand Brigade, the Turks handed over their weapons and passed safely into captivity to the fury of the Arabs.

It was, in some respects, a disappointing war for Ryrie who, after four years, still commanded his brigade as brigadier general. As the official historian correctly asserts, in over two years of operations he never made a serious mistake. 'Steady, consistent success marked his leadership all the way'. It was his misfortune that not only were there no casualties among divisional commanders in the mounted force, but also that other brigadiers were available, both regulars, with more experience and better qualifications for divisional command on the two occasions when a vacancy occurred. Moreover, the appointment was not a purely Australian matter and Chauvel, whose advice must have been sought, had his doubts about Ryrie's fitness to command a division.

Ryrie had been appointed C.M.G. (1916), C.B. (1917) and was mentioned in dispatches five times. He was also awarded the Order of the Nile (2nd class). In December 1918 he became commander of the Australian Mounted Division, was promoted temporary major general in April 1919 and, when Chauvel departed that month, succeeded him as commander of the A.I.F. in Egypt. Ryrie was appointed K.C.M.G. in October 1919, just before returning to Australia.

When revolutionary disturbances broke out in Egypt in March 1919, the embarkation of the light horse was interrupted and all the regiments were remounted and employed on internal security under the orders of the acting commander-in-chief. Ryrie was involved when a Gurkha sentry of his force disappeared. He employed two Australian Aborigines who found the Gurkha's body and traced the murderers to a nearby village. When the local headmen would not or could not produce them, Ryrie ordered the village to be burnt.

Ryrie resumed his political activities on his return and was made assistant (honorary) minister of defence, from February 1920 to December 1921, in the last government of W. M. Hughes. It was a difficult portfolio in the post-war years but Ryrie was devoted to it; although he had returned to the Australian Military Forces as a major general in June 1920 and as commander of the 1st Cavalry Division in 1921, he obtained leave from military duty to March 1923 and again until July 1924. His command was extended until June 1927 when he retired. In September 1922, when Hughes proposed moving from the doubtful seat of Bendigo to the safe seat of North Sydney, Ryrie was willing to accommodate him by taking over the new and equally safe seat of Warringah. He was temporary chairman of committees in the House of Representatives, and chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Accounts, in 1926-27.

It was said of Ryrie that 'he was a faithful party man of the right wing whose loyalties and attachments everyone knew and whose support could be implicitly relied upon in all circumstances'. His reward came in 1927 when he was offered the post of high commissioner in London. He was engaged there principally in formal rather than policy matters, although Prime Minister Bruce ordered his liaison officer R. G. (Lord) Casey to report regularly to Ryrie and show him their correspondence if required.

Ryrie had lost none of his bluntness and geniality and his worth was soon appreciated. He faithfully represented Australia at the League of Nations in Geneva and may have stirred some of an astonished group of diplomats to action when he adjured them: 'Cut the cackle and let's get down to business'. On another occasion his unconventional and picturesque language when opposing a motion in the assembly of the league, brought roars of laughter from the delegates; when translated into French it reduced Aristide Briand to helpless tears of mirth. He rushed up to Ryrie shouting 'Magnifique, Australia'.

Ryrie came home in 1932 but did not return to public life. Suffering from uraemia and cardiac failure he died in Sydney on 2 October 1937, survived by his wife and children. After a state service at St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral, he was buried at Michelago. Two portraits of him by Henry Woolcott and Charles Wheeler and a pencil sketch by George Lambert are in the Australian War Memorial.
Source References:
6. Type: Book, Abbr: Queanbeyan Register, Title: Biographical register of Canberra and Queanbeyan: from the district to the Australian Capital Territory 1820-1930, Auth: Peter Proctor, Publ: The Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra, Date: 2001
- Reference = 280 (Name, Notes)
- Reference = 280 (Burial)
- Reference = 280 (Death)
- Reference = 280 (Birth)
- Reference = 280 (Marriage)
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