Brinley Arthur Morgan
Second Lieutenant Brinley Arthur Morgan – Royal Flying Corps
Early Life
Brinley Arthur Morgan was born in 1893, the
eldest son of William Rhandir Morgan and Elizabeth Jane Hopkin.
He was educated at Arnold School, where he excelled both academically
and athletically. Following his studies, Brinley joined his father in the management
of shipping operations, assisting in the family’s business before the
outbreak of the First World War.Brinley Arthur Morgan
Family
The Morgan family were well known in Swansea for their
business and civic prominence. William Rhandir Morgan was a respected
figure in the shipping trade, while Elizabeth Jane Morgan (née
Hopkin) managed the family home. The family resided at “Dunluce,”
Queen’s Road, Sketty, Swansea, a residence often mentioned in local society
notices of the time.
As the eldest child, Brinley was recognised for his sense of
duty, intelligence, and maturity — qualities that would later guide his
military career and earn him the respect of those who served alongside him.
Military Service
With the outbreak of the First World War in August
1914, Brinley enlisted the following month, joining the Glamorgan
Yeomanry, a territorial cavalry regiment. His aptitude for leadership and
service was soon recognised. By May 1916, he had been gazetted as a
Temporary Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, and by February
1917, he was confirmed in that rank.
In January 1917, Brinley transferred to the Royal
Flying Corps (RFC) — the air arm of the British Army before the formation
of the Royal Air Force in 1918. This transition reflected both the
growing importance of aviation in modern warfare and the bravery required to
face the unprecedented dangers of flight.
The Royal Flying Corps in Early 1917
At the time of Brinley’s transfer, the Royal Flying Corps
was expanding rapidly and playing an increasingly vital role on the Western
Front. Its duties included aerial reconnaissance, artillery spotting,
photographic mapping, and aerial combat — missions that were both physically
demanding and extremely hazardous.
Aircraft of the time were constructed of lightweight wood
and fabric, offering minimal protection, and pilots flew without parachutes.
The average life expectancy for a new pilot on the Western Front in 1917 was
estimated at just three weeks. Brinley’s service coincided with one of
the most dangerous periods for RFC airmen, as they faced constant threats from
enemy fighters of the German Air Service, including the formidable units
led by Manfred von Richthofen, the “Red Baron.”
The early months of 1917 saw the RFC conducting
continuous operations to support preparations for the forthcoming Battle of
Arras. Pilots carried out reconnaissance and artillery-spotting missions
deep over enemy lines, often flying multiple sorties a day under heavy
anti-aircraft fire. It was a time of rapid technological change, where courage
and quick thinking often determined survival.
Death
Second Lieutenant Brinley Arthur Morgan was killed
in action on 4th March 1917, during an aerial engagement over
France. He was 23 years old. His death occurred in the weeks leading up
to the major spring offensives of 1917, as the RFC fought to maintain air
superiority over the Western Front.
Burial
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| Brinley Arthur Morgan Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension credit - findagrave |
Legacy
Second Lieutenant Brinley Arthur Morgan is remembered
on the St. Paul’s war memorial, among those who served not only on land
and sea but also in the air. His life and service embody the courage and
pioneering spirit of the early aviators of the Royal Flying Corps, who
took to the skies in fragile machines during the infancy of military aviation.
Brinley’s sacrifice, like that of so many young men of his
generation, was both heroic and tragic — a symbol of youthful idealism and
devotion to duty. From the quiet streets of Sketty to the open skies above
France, his story stands as a testament to bravery, innovation, and the
ultimate cost of war.
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