17 Facts About Granville Ryrie

Granville Ryrie served in the Boer War and the First World War, in the latter commanding the 2nd Light Horse Brigade and ANZAC Mounted Division.

Granville Ryrie concluded his public service as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, the first time the position had been held by someone other than a former prime minister.

Granville Ryrie's father was Alexander Ryrie, a grazier and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and of the Legislative Council, and his mother was Charlotte, nee Faunce, both born in New South Wales.

Granville Ryrie was educated at Mittagong and at The King's School, Sydney; he later became a jackaroo, and eventually managed his own property.

Granville Ryrie volunteered to serve in the Second Boer War, from 1899 to 1902.

Granville Ryrie was selected to serve in one of the Bushmen's Contingents, groups of light horsemen, because of his skills on horseback and in shooting.

Granville Ryrie was an unsuccessful candidate for the Australian House of Representatives at the 1910 election, but was elected for North Sydney at a by-election on 11 March 1911, following the death of Hon.

At the beginning of the First World War, Granville Ryrie was promoted to brigadier general, and was given command of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, part of the ANZAC Mounted Division.

Granville Ryrie was in the Suez Canal area and then joined the Gallipoli Campaign on 19 May 1915, where he was wounded twice.

Granville Ryrie was later moved to Egypt and London for respite, but rejoined the Brigade for the Sinai and Palestine campaign.

Granville Ryrie was involved in the famous charge of the light horse in the Third Battle of Gaza, in which Australian forces captured the town of Beersheba.

At the 1922 election the newly created Division of Warringah was carved out of part of North Sydney, and Granville Ryrie transferred there to be succeeded by Hughes.

Granville Ryrie served until 1927, when he was appointed the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in London.

Granville Ryrie was an Australian delegate to the League of Nations.

In 1928 and 1929 Granville Ryrie acted as the Australian accredited representative before the League's Permanent Mandates Commission for the annual examinations of the Australian administration of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea.

Granville Ryrie returned to Australia in 1932, and died in Sydney on 2 October 1937, survived by his wife and children.

Granville Ryrie was buried at Michelago, New South Wales, after a state service at St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral.