Bryn Lewis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bryn Lewis

Birth name	Brinley Richard Lewis
Date of birth	(1891-01-04)4 January 1891
Place of birth	Pontardawe, Wales
Date of death	2 April 1917(1917-04-02) (aged 26)
Place of death	Ypres, Belgium
School	Swansea Grammar School
University	Cambridge 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 2 (6)

Bryn Lewis was a talented Welsh rugby player and a brave soldier. His full name was Brinley Richard Lewis. He was born on January 4, 1891, in Pontardawe, Wales. Sadly, he died during World War I on April 2, 1917.

Bryn played rugby as a wing, which is a fast player on the side of the field. He played for famous clubs like Cambridge University. He also proudly represented his country, Wales, in international matches. Bryn Lewis is remembered as one of the twelve Welsh rugby players who died fighting in the First World War.

Bryn Lewis: A Rugby Star

Bryn Lewis grew up in Pontardawe, Wales. He went to Swansea Grammar School and was good enough to play for the Wales Schoolboy team. Later, he studied at Cambridge University. While there, he earned three 'Blues'. This means he was chosen to play in the important annual Varsity rugby games against Oxford University three times, from 1909 to 1911.

Bryn first played for the senior Welsh national team in 1912. This was during the 1912 Five Nations Championship, and his first game was against Ireland. The Welsh team was quite new, and they lost the game 12–5. It was a tough match, especially when Bryn's teammate, Tom Williams, broke his arm but kept playing!

Bryn Lewis played for Wales again the next year, in the 1913 Five Nations Championship. This was his second and last game for his country, once more against Ireland. In this match, Bryn scored two tries, which helped Wales win a close game. Interestingly, one of the Irish players who scored a try in that game, Albert Stewart, also died in action during World War I, just like Bryn.

International Rugby Matches for Wales

Bryn Lewis played for Wales in these matches:

• Against Ireland in 1912
• Against Ireland in 1913

Serving His Country

When World War I began, Bryn Lewis joined the army. He became a Major in 'B Battery' of the 122nd Brigade. This brigade was part of the 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division. He was recognized for his bravery and good service.

Major Lewis was killed in action on April 2, 1917, near Ypres, Belgium. The enemy fired shells at his battery's camp. One shell hit the mess hall where Bryn Lewis was, and he died instantly. He is buried at Ferme-Oliver Cemetery.