Ian Brill-Edwards was born in Plymouth, Devon, on 17 April 1944, the son of Henry Charles and Annie G Brill-Edwards (née Zappert). He joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman (E) at the Royal Naval College Dartmouth on 1 September 1963.

He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant (MESM) on 1 September 1964 and to Lieutenant (MESM) on 1 November 1966.  He trained at the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon and subsequently served in HMS DOLPHIN. He was then appointed to HMS PRESIDENT (possibly a holding establishment for an appointment to Nuclear Reactor Training Establishment at HMS VULCAN).

He was married to Catherine Margaret Tickle in Plymouth on 22 July 1967.  It is believed that he was killed in a car accident near Bristol.