De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 2 page 314
Brinley Jenkyn Williams was born on the 8th October 1888, at Merthyr Tydvil, Glamorgan, 4th son of Rhys Williams, of Glenholme, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Divisional Insurance Manager for the North of England, and his wife Anne, daughter of Daniel (and Elizabeth) Howells.
Brinley was educated at Chester County School and Liverpool University where he graduated B.Sc in 1911.
His parents were living 2, Rockcliffe Gardens, Whitley Bay, Northumberland.
He became a Divisional Insurance Inspector, and joined the Durham O.T.C. in August 1915, and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant Northumberland Fusiliers on the 10th September 1915.
Served in France from the 10th March and was killed at Neuve Chapelle on the 20th May 1916, while in charge of a working party behind the front line trenches.
He took a keen interest in athletics, and was an enthusiastic Rugby Footballer, and very fond of swimming , being captain of the swimming club at Liverpool University for 1909-10, and gained his Rugby Cap in 1908-9.
His Commanding Officer had wrote:- Although he had been in the regiment but a short time, he showed great promise and made himself loved and respected by all ranks, and I deplore his loss.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 26/05/1916 reports:
"Second-Lieut. B.J. Williams of Newcastle .
Killed in charge of a working party.
Mr. and Mrs. Rhys Williams, 'Glenholme, Otterburn Villas, Jesmond, Newcastle, have received intimation that their son, Second-Lieut. Brinley J. Williams, who was serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers, has been killed.
A brother officer of the deceased, in a letter to Mr. Williams, states that at midnight on Thursday, May 18, Lieut. Williams was in charge of a working party, just behind the front line. He died, without suffering, almost immediately after receiving the German bullet. Lieut. Williams was 28 years of age and unmarried.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams had a family of five sons, and they were all serving at the front at the same time. Lieut. Brinley Williams was the fourth son. His brothers now at the Front are: Staff-Capt. Theo. Williams, M.A., LLB., Welsh Regiment.; Sergt. David B. Williams, Cheshire Regiment; Corporal Daniel R. Williams, Royal Engineers, and Capt. Godfrey Howell Williams, Northumberland Fusiliers.
He is remembered in the 19th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour
