Bryn Lewis

Major Brinley Lewis (4 January 1891 – 2 April 1917), known as Bryn Lewis, was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Newport and Cambridge University. He is one of twelve Welsh internationals to have died in active duty during World War I.

Bryn Lewis
Birth nameBrinley Richard Lewis[1]
Date of birth(1891-01-04)4 January 1891
Place of birthPontardawe, Wales
Date of death2 April 1917(1917-04-02) (aged 26)
Place of deathYpres, Belgium
SchoolSwansea Grammar School[2]
UniversityCambridge University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
?
?
?
?
1912–1913		 Pontardawe RFC
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
Swansea F.C.
London Welsh RFC
Barbarian F.C.		 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1912–1913 Wales[3] 2 (6)

Rugby career

Lewis was born in Pontardawe, Wales but was educated at Swansea Grammar School and represented the Wales Schoolboy team. He later attended Cambridge University and while at university gained three 'Blues' when he was selected for three consecutive Varsity games from 1909-1911. Lewis gained his first cap for Wales against Ireland as part of the 1912 Five Nations Championship.

The Welsh team was inexperienced and lost the game 12-5, not helped when Lewis's team mate Tom Williams broke his arm and continued playing in the second half of the game. Lewis was back the next year in the 1913 Championship, for his second and last cap, again against Ireland. Lewis scored two tries in the game which saw Wales win narrowly. A scorer of one of the Irish tries in that game, Albert Stewart, would like Lewis, die in action in World War I.

International matches played

Wales[4]

Military career

During the First World War, Lewis was a Major in 'B Battery' of the 122nd Brigade of the 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division, and was mentioned in Despatches. He was killed in action at Ypres on 2 April 1917, after the enemy shelled the rear of B Battery, hitting the mess where Lewis was situated, killing him instantly. He is buried at Ferme-Oliver Cemetery.[5]

Bibliography
  • Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983. London, UK: Willows Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X.
  • Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
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References
  1. Swansea RFC player profiles
  2. Ospreys player profiles
  3. Welsh Rugby Union player profile
  4. Smith (1980), pg 468.
  5. Matthew Ferris. Rugby Heroes who went to War, bbc.co.uk, November 2008; accessed 9 September 2015.
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