The Tanworth-in-Arden war memorial includes the name of Alfred J. Brien as a war casualty from the parish. However, the only Alfred Brien on the Commonwealth War Graves records is actually Alfred O’Brien, who was from Liverpool and had a wife and children in Liverpool at the time of his death. It seems unlikely that he is the casualty commemorated at Tanworth.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website also has three more casualties with the name A. Brien, but two were called Andrew and the third was Archie. None appear to have a connection with Tanworth.
It is possible that the Alfred J. Brien on the war memorial is someone who was considered by the local community to be a war casualty but was not officially recognised as such. However, we have been unable to find any trace of a family called Brien (or O’Brien) in Tanworth around the time of the war.
The County of Warwickshire Roll of Honour 1914-2005 vol. 1 by Kenneth Fowler identifies Alfred J. Brien as Alfred Brine, who died on 17th February 1919 and is buried in Brandwood Cemetery, Birmingham. The cemetery register lists him as Private A. J. Brine, Royal Warwickshire Regt, aged 24.
The County of Warwickshire Roll of Honour 1914-2005 vol. 1 lists him as the son of George, a cowman on a farm, and Fanny. His wife was Alexandra, of Holly Cottage, Holberrow, Astwood Bank, Redditch. Further investigation indicates that this was actually Arthur Brine, not Alfred, so there is something of a discrepancy in the name.
Arthur Brine was born in Balsall Heath and was a gas fitter for H. Simmons at the time he enlisted in the Territorials on 6th June 1913 at the age of 17 years 11 months. He was embodied into the Army as a full-time soldier on 5th August 1914 and served in France from 22nd March 1915 until 13th July 1916, when he returned to England. He was wounded in action at Beaumont Hamel on 1st July 1916, receiving a gun shot wound to the head, arm and back.
He married Alexandra Harris at St David’s Church, Birmingham on 4th March 1915 at which time he was a soldier, living in Kelvedon, Essex. His father was George Brine, carpenter. The couple had three daughters – Irene Georgina (1915-2003), Aimee Doreen (1917-2008) and Ripple Alma (1919-2013), who was born six months after her father’s death.
Arthur Brine died of influenza and pneumonia at the “Pensioners’ Hospital,” Lodge Road, Birmingham. According to the British Medical Journal 14th September 1918, this was opened in August 1918 on the City Hospital site, which Birmingham City Council had placed at the disposal of the Ministry of Pensions for the treatment of disabled war veterans. Arthur’s death was registered by his mother, and his usual address was given as Lloyds Bank, Gooch Street, Birmingham. He was listed as an electrical engineer and an ex-Private of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
There is a link between Tanworth-in-Arden and the Brine family, as Arthur’s brother, Albert William Brine (c.1895-1933), was mentioned in the Stratford-upon-Avon Herald, 18th September 1914, with others from Tanworth-in-Arden, as having joined the Army.
We haven’t been able to find out what Albert Brine was doing in Tanworth, nor whether his brother was also living in the village. Private Arthur Brine was discharged from the Army on 24th April 1918 as no longer physically fit for war service. His widow, Alexandra Brine, was living at Holly Cottage, Holberrow, Astwood Bank, Redditch by the 1920s and died in a care home in Pershore in 1974.
If you have any further information about the family and the connection to Tanworth, please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage & Local Studies Librarian
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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