Granville Ryrie - Military Career

Military Career

At the beginning of the First World War, Ryrie was promoted to Brigadier-General, and was given command of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, part of the Anzac Mounted Division. He was in the Suez canal area and then joined the Battle of Gallipoli on 19 May 1915, where he was wounded twice. He was later moved to Egypt and London for respite, but rejoined the Brigade for the Sinai and Palestine campaign. He 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. In December 1918 he was made commander of the Australian Mounted Division, and in April 1919 was put in charge of the Australian Imperial Force. He was promoted Major General in September.