Died from an illness contracted while serving aged 27
Buried in Denver, Colorado
William Jacob was the second son of Captain Loftus Anthony Bryan of Upton and Borrmount Manor, co Wexford, JP and DL, High Sheriff 1892, Captain the Waterford Artillery, Southern Division, RA, and his wife Annie, youngest daughter of the late Mr M R Ryan JP.
William graduated from Christ Church BA in 1913, and commenced service on 26 September 1914. His commission was gazetted on 29 September 1914.
15th Royal Fusiliers were a Reserve battalion and never went overseas, spending their time at Dover, and at Shoreham in Kent, The fact that no medal index card for service overseas can be found confirms that William must have died while serving as a reserve officer.
His death at Colorado Springs, from an illness contracted while serving, is recorded in Ireland’s Memorial Records of the Great War.
If William Jacob contracted tuberculosis while in service, his family may have arranged for his care at Cragmor Sanatorium under the care of a young physician, Alexius M Forster who became famous in his own time for medical achievement in tubercular care.
“Wm. J. Bryan died on Nov. 18, 1916. He was 27 years, 1 week, and 13 days old when he died. He was a white, single, male with no occupation. He had been born in Ireland and died of pulmonary tuberculosis. Further death complications were due to “enteric and laryngeal tuberculosis”. It was reported that Lt. Bryan came here from Ireland and was a resident of Colorado for 8 months and 17 days. He died at the Cragmor Sanatorium and his death was reported by Betty Pelkington of Colorado Springs (possibly an employee of the Sanatorium). His physician was Dr. A.M. Forster. Lt. Bryan was buried in Denver, Colorado.”
from Special Collections
Pikes Peak Library District, USA