9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
14/10/1891
Died:
01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
24
Summary
Robert Bryans was the son of John and Mary Bryans. Robert was born on 14th October 1891 in Lisnaskea. The 1911 census records that his father, his brother and Robert himself were all farm labourers. Prior to enlisting, Robert was Trooper 168 in C Company, Lisnaskea Troop of Enniskillen Horse. After enlisting, Robert was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant. Sergeant Robert Bryans was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916.
Further Information
Robert Henry Bryans was the son of John and Mary Bryans. John Bryans married Mary Reilly on 30th October 1880 in Fermanagh.
Robert Bryans was born on 14th October 1891 in Lisnaskea.
The 1901 census lists Robert as age 9 living with the family at house 12 in Grogey, County Fermanagh. His father was a caretaker.
Family: John Bryans, Mary Bryans, John James Bryans (born 11th March 1885), Sarah Bryans (born 7th February 1887), William Bryans (born about 1889), Robert Bryans (born 14th October 1891), Edward Bryans (born 16th October 1893).
The 1911 census lists Robert as age 18 living with the family at house 6 in Hollybrook, Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh. His father, his brother and Robert himself were all farm labourers.
Prior to enlisting, Robert was Trooper 168 in C Company, Lisnaskea Troop of Enniskillen Horse.
Bob Bryans, as he latterly became known, enlisted in Enniskillen with the 11th Battalion, 36th (Ulster) Division in 1914.
Bob Bryans arrived in France on 5th October 1915.
Robert was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant.
Sergeant Robert Bryans was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916.
In a letter to his father at Lisnaskea, Lieutenant Herbert Gordon, a solicitor from Enniskillen, said how Bob had fell gallantly, leading his platoon across No Man's Land against the German trenches. He was mortally wounded by a machine gun bullet.
Two of Bob's brothers also fought in France.
Sergeant Robert Bryans is buried in Connaught Cemetery on the edge of Thiepval Wood near the Ulster Tower.
Sergeant Robert Bryans is commemorated on Enniskillen War Memorial.
Most of the information here was derived from the book, 'Fermanagh War Memorial Book of Honour 1914 – 1921'. Page 208 is devoted to Sergeant Robert Bryans.
