Edward Ryan was born in Strangford, Co. Down, Ireland on 6 August 1887. He joined the Royal Navy in May 1902. After time in HMS GOOD HOPE and HMS DEVONSHIRE, he joined submarines as a Lieutenant in September 1909.

After some unspecified submarine appointments, Ryan took command of HMS A6 in August 1912, followed by command of HMS C3 in February 1913. Ryan’s next appointment in October 1914 was to command of HMS D1, followed in June 1916 by that of HMS E26.

On 3 July 1916, E26 was operating off the estuary of the Ems River, when attacked by German forces. Both gunfire and bombs were used. E26 did not return from her patrol. There were no survivors. Edward Ryan is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval War Memorial on Panel No. 11.

Edward Ryan was married to Connie Ryan. They had a son, Patrick Ryan (q.v.), who was lost in the sinking of HMS THETIS in June 1939. Patrick Ryan’s son (David Patrick Blackwood (Paddy) Ryan, OBE) also became a submariner and retired as a Commander, after commanding six conventional and nuclear-powered submarines, including a RESOLUTION Class Submarine. Paddy Ryan’s son also joined the Royal Navy and qualified as a submariner in 2004. He is believed to be the first 4th generation Submarine Officer from the one family.