James Brierley was born in Bury, Lancashire on 18 April 1896, the son of Walter Brierley (auctioneer) and Elizabeth Ellen Brierley (née Holt). He was appointed as a Temporary Midshipman, Royal Naval Reserve on 5 December 1914 and was appointed to the Armed Merchant Cruiser AMC CARIBBEAN on 12 December 1914. He then joined the Armed Merchant Cruiser AMC VICTORIAN on commissioning on 2 June 1915. A year later, on 4 July 1916 James Brierley was appointed to the battleship HMS MONARCH. He was transferred to the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in February 1917 and, on 5 October 1917 he was appointed to the cruiser HMS BIRKENHEAD and was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 14 October 1917.

James Brierley was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN for submarine training on 27 December 1917, and to HMS J6 as Third Hand on 9 July 1918. J6 was sunk on 15 October 1918. At the time J6 was on the surface near Blyth. In the afternoon, the ‘Q’ Ship HMS CYMRIC sighted what was thought to be a German submarine and made an attack with her guns. J6 was unable to establish her identity as the Signalman attempting to make the recognition signal was killed by shell fire. James Brierley was lost in the sinking.

James Brierley is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial on Panel No 28.