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World War One: The Wales rugby international who died on the battlefield

Brinley Richard Lewis

Born: 4, January 1891, Pontardawe.

Killed in action: 2 April, 1917 Ypres, France, hit by shellfire.

Teams: Pontardawe RFC, Cambridge University, Swansea,

London Welsh, Barbarian

Wales: Two caps, 1912-193.

Brinley Richard Lewis was killed on the Western Front 104 years ago to the day of the game when a stray German shell landed on the Battery Mess to the rear of his unit’s position. He was killed instantly, along with a fellow officer, at Boesinge, Belgium, at the age of 26. He was the ninth of 13 Welsh internationals to be killed in WW1.

So keen was he to serve his county during the Great War that he forsook his final law exams – he was articled to T.W. James, solicitor – and enlisted as a trooper in the Glamorgan Yeomanry. He then transferred to the Royal Field Artillery and quickly earned a commission. Eventually rising to the rank of Major, “B” Battery, 122nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, 38th (Welsh) Division, his final promotion came for ‘Valuable service in the field’. Shortly after his death, he was mentioned in despatches.

Born on 4 January, 1891, Lewis learned his rugby at Swansea Grammar School, played for Welsh Schoolboys against England in 1905 and got his first taste of senior rugby with his home town team of Pontardawe. He won three ‘Blues’ at Cambridge University and played for Swansea, London Welsh, Glamorgan and the Barbarians.

He joined Swansea in the 1909-10 and appeared in Welsh trials that season. But he had to wait until 1912 for the first of his two caps, on 9 March, 1912, against Ireland in Dublin. Wales lost 12-5 and the debutant copped much of the blame.

His second cap was also against Ireland, on 8 March, 1913, on home turf at St Helen’s. He scored two tries and had a hand in the third as Wales won a thriller, 16-13. Three of the victorious Welsh XV that day failed to return from WW1 – Lewis, Billy Geen and Fred Perrett.