John Evelyn Bryant was born in Runcorn, Cheshire during 1882.
The 1891 Census tells us that the family at that time lived in The Vicarage, Whitley, Cheshire. The head of the family was James Jones Bryant MA, aged 41, a Church of England Clergyman of Jesus College, Cambridge. His wife Evelyn Rougier Bryant (nee Barclay) aged 39 and their 6 (six) children – John Evelyn Bryant aged 9, Henry Herbert Bryant aged 7, Edith Winefride Bryant aged 6, Joan B Bryant aged 4, Alfred James Bryant aged 2 and Dorothy Gladys Bryant aged 4 months. Also living at The Vicarage were three Domestic Servants, namely, Alice Calice aged 18, June Antrobus aged 17 and Emily Dykes aged 16.
During 1904 the family left Cheshire and moved to Rhyl, Flintshire where they resided at Cliveden House, Rhyl. A year later James Jones Bryant died leaving Evelyn a widow.
Nothing is known at the present time of John Evelyn Bryant’s early life, but he must have received a good education as he became a Tutor of Languages.
At the outbreak of the First World War he was commissioned as a Lieutenant into 6th Battalion Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. He travelled to France with the Battalion on Sunday 10 October 1915 and was promoted Captain some six months later.
Cymru Newspaper dated Friday 18 August 1916 – Sad News for Rhyl Families.
The last few days have brought sad news from the fighting lines to so many Rhyl families, the number of Rhyl men now reported killed being about fifty. Mrs Bryant, Cliveden House (widow of the late Rev. J.J.Bryant of Whitley Vicarage, Northwich) has been notified that her eldest son, Captain J Evelyn Bryant, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, was killed in action on the 4th inst. Deceased was a very smart officer. He served his country in the Boar War, and at the time of the outbreak of the present war was engaged in educational work in Russia. He was a grandson of the late Canon Barclay of Runcorn.
Following his death Probate was Administered at St. Asaph, Denbighshire on 26 January 1917, in which he left the sum of £145.18s.5d to his mother Evelyn Rougier Bryant.
He is also remembered on The North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales and on a Remembrance Plaque at The Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire.
Evelyn Rougier Bryant died in 1935.
