Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edwin Briers a tailor, born 1874 in Shepshed, Leics., and his wife Eliza Briers (nee Unwin, married in the 2nd quarter of 1896 in the Loughborough, Leics. district), born in the 4th quarter of 1872 in Shepshed, Leics. Edwin Arnold was born in on the 19th December 1900 in Shepshed, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Brook Street, Shepshed, Leics. In April 1911 Edwin was a schoolboy, and was residing in the family home at Hall Croft, Shepshed, Leics., together with his father, a tailor and outfitter, his mother who was assisting in the family business, and his brother Sidney Maurice, born 1908 in Shepshed, Leics., also residing with the family was his cousin Florence Ethel Reat, a domestic housemaid, born 1893 in Leicester. Edwin enlisted into the Royal Air Force on the 30th September 1918 for the duration of the war, and was allocated the service number 299853. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5¼ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of 34¾ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was medium brown and he had brown eyes. He gave his date of birth as the 19th December 1900 and his trade or calling as motor driver and mechanic, and his religion as Baptist. He gave his father, Edwin Briers, of 47, Ashover Road, Leicester as his next of kin. His record of service began when he joined joined the Recruit Depot as a Private II on the 30/9/18 – 21/10/18, when he died of purulent bronchitis in Blandford Military Hospital, Dorset.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday November 1st, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Pte. Edwin Arnold Briers, R.A.F., eldest son of Mr Edwin Briers, Shepshed, has died in training after a few weeks’ service. He was not quite 18.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 30/6/2018