William entered the war in France on 12th August 1914, as part of the Regimental Medical Officer's team for the 1st Bn. King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. By August 1915, he was serving with the 16th Field Ambulance. On 9th August 1915, at 3.30 a.m., the 16th and 18th Brigades were attacked around Hooge and the crater etc. Walking wounded were making it back to the Asylum in Ypres, and roughly 14 lying down wounded cases were taken back but owing to the heavy shell fire by the enemy most of the wounded couldn’t be got away before the night. The Asylum was also being shelled on and off during the day. George was killed at Hooge that day, along with two others wounded. He was the son of William and Phoebe Ryan of Newcastle, Galway.