Edward James Brierley was born 5 August 1888 in Marylebone, Middlesex (now Greater London), the eldest of the six children of Edward Brierley (1864-1944) and Emma Brierley née Clayton (1867-1945), his birth being registered in the 3rd quarter of 1888 in the Marylebone registration district. Our Picture Source gives much information about this man.
On 26 August 1888 he was baptised at St. Luke’s Church, Nutford Place, Marylebone, where the baptismal register shows that the family were living at 21 Molyneux Street, Marylebone and that his father was a carpenter/joiner.
In the April 1891 census he is shown as living in two rooms at 40 Shouldham Street, Marylebone, with his parents and 9-months-old sister, Jessie Emma Brierley (1890-1967). The March 1901 census shows he was residing in three rooms at 39 Nutford Place, Marylebone, with his parents and four siblings: Jessie Emma Brierley, Winifred Alice Blanche Brierley (1892-1924), Renzo Albert Brierley (1894-1969) and Constance Annie Brierley (1898-1984).
In September 1907 he was appointed as a Postman in London’s Western District Office and gained promotion to Postman Grade I on 15 March 1909. He is described as a G.P.O. postman in the April 1911 census, now living in five rooms at 39 Nutford Place, Marylebone, with his parents and five siblings: Jessie Emma Brierley and Winifred Alice Blanche Brierley who were both listed as dressmakers; Renzo Albert Brierly was shown as a silver smith; Constance Annie Brierley and Phyllis Angelina Brierley (1901-1996) were both listed as schoolchildren. Also on the census return was his paternal aunt, Jessie McQuire née Brierley (1862-1912).
On 26 December 1913 he married Lizzie Jane Griffiths (1891-1935) at Christ Church, Marylebone, where the marriage register confirms he was aged 26 years, a bachelor and a postman living at 100 Boston Place, Marylebone, whilst his wife was shown as aged 23 years, a spinster living at 102 Boston Place, Marylebone, the daughter of John Griffiths who was a district disinfecting officer.
He left his Post Office service on 17 August 1914 in order to enlist in the 8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), service number 4788, where he gained promotion to the rank of Serjeant. He was later transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, service number 43754.
On 28 May 1917 his daughter Gwendoline Ellen Brierley (1917-2013) was born and when she was baptised on 1 June 1917 at St Mark's Church, Notting Hill, the baptismal register shows the family address as 7 Kennett Road, Harrow Road, Paddington. (Kennett Road was subsequently renamed as Kennet Road).
During the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, on 31 July 1917 his battalion had 44 other ranks (not officers) killed. They were relieved, and then placed back in the line on 16 August at Langemark, Belgium, where they lost a further 2 officers and 70 other ranks, killed, including Edward James Brierley, who was 29 years old. As he has no known grave he is commemorated on Stone 138 at the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Zonnebeke, West Flanders, Belgium.
On 11 September 1918 his widow was awarded a £100-1s-2d gratuity for past services in the General Post Office. His army effects totalling £2-10s-1d were sent to his widow on 30 September 1918 and she was also sent his £10-10s-0d war gratuity on 26 November 1919.
He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal (1914-1918) and the Victory Medal. On 16 November 1926 his widow applied for them to be sent to her at 46 Rainham Road, Willesden.
He is shown as 'BRIERLEY, E.J.' on the Western Postal District war memorial at Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on page 44 in the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance Memorial Book 1914-1920, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and on the A Street Near You website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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