Selected Biographies

Briner, Arthur – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 18.9.1885.[1]  Parents: Charles Edward Briner (Coachsmith) and Sarah Ann [née Metcalf].  Family Connections: Brother to William Charles Briner [b1872], Lancelot George Briner [b1877], Alfred Harry Briner [b1886] and Edwin James Briner [b1893].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1891), Liston Hall, Liston, Essex (1901), The Glebe House, Penshurst, Kent (1911), Castle Lodge, Bayley Street, Castle Hedingham, Essex (1939), 2 Pottery Lane, Castle Hedingham [1968].  Occupation: Stableman (1901), Butler to Lady Caroline Cavendish (1911), Butcher [1939].  Married: Laura Ellen Friend in 1919.  Service Record: No definitive military record has been found.  Died: Castle Hedingham, Essex on 27.7.1968.[2]

Briner, Alfred Harry – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 8.11.1886.[3]  Parents: Charles Edward Briner (Coachsmith) and Sarah Ann [née Metcalf].  Family Connections: Brother to William Charles Briner [b1872], Lancelot George Briner [b1877], Arthur Briner [b1884] and Edwin James Briner [b1893].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1891) to [1932].  Occupation: Carpenter (1901), Turner and Fitter at Ward’s Iron Foundry (1911).  Service Record: No definitive military record has been found.  Died: Long Melford on 1.5.1932.[4]

Briner, Edwin James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 28.5.1893.[5]  Parents: Charles Edward Briner (Coachsmith) and Sarah Ann [née Metcalf].  Family Connections: Brother to William Charles Briner [b1872], Lancelot George Briner [b1877], Arthur Briner [b1884] and Alfred Harry Briner [b1886].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), 58 Thoday Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire [1920], 41 Great Eastern Street, Cambridge (1939).  Occupation: Grocer’s Porter (1911), Fireman [1920], Railway Engine Driver for the London and North-eastern Railway (1939).  Married: Grace May Whitby in 1920.  Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, Edwin may have enlisted as Spr.268868 with the Royal Engineers, being later renumbered as Spr.WR/203288 and possibly serving with the Waterways and Railways section.[6]  Died: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire in 1976.

Briner, Lancelot George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 27.5.1877.[7]  Parents: Charles Edward Briner (Coachsmith) and Sarah Ann [née Metcalf].  Family Connections: Brother to William Charles Briner [b1872], Arthur Briner [b1884], Alfred Harry Briner [b1886] and Edwin James Briner [b1893].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1881 and 1891), St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1901 to 1939).  Occupation: Carpenter (1901), Wheelwright (1911 to 1939).  Married: Maud Annie Spring in 1900.  Service Record: Lancelot enlisted as Spr.97015 with the Royal Engineers, being posted to France from 28.9.1915.[8]  In 1922 he is recorded as a committee member of the Long Melford Ex-Service Men’s Club.  Died: Braintree, Essex in 1956.

Briner, William Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 26.5.1872.[9]  Parents: Charles Edward Briner (Coachsmith) and Sarah Ann [née Metcalf].  Family Connections: Brother to Lancelot George Briner [b1877], Arthur Briner [b1884], Alfred Harry Briner [b1886] and Edwin James Briner [b1893].  Home: George Inn, Hall Street, Long Melford (1881 to 1901), Kelso, Queens Road, Sudbury, Suffolk (1911), Kenwood, Cornells Lane, Saffron Walden, Essex (1939), The Red House, Sudbury [1959].  Occupation: Tailor (1891 to 1911), retired Tailor (1939).  Married: Harriett Minnie Reed in 1901.  Service Record: No definitive military record has been found.  Died: St Leonards Hospital, Sudbury, Suffolk on 14.1.1959.

Notes – [1] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register. [2] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [3] Date of birth taken from the Baptism Register 19.12.1886 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [4] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [5] Date of birth taken from the Baptism Register 3.9.1893, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [6] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [7] Date of birth taken from the Baptism Register 2.9.1877, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [8] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [9] Date of birth taken from the Baptism Register 1.9.1872 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.