Background
Brink was born at Jagersfontein, Orange Free State, on 27 September 1889 and was educated at Grey College, Bloemfontein.
Brink was born at Jagersfontein, Orange Free State, on 27 September 1889 and was educated at Grey College, Bloemfontein.
In 1919 he attended the Imperial Staff College.
Lieutenant-General Military In 1913, Brink joined the Union Defence Forces. In World War I he served in German East Africa during the first East African Campaign. and on his return was appointed to the staff of the South African Military College, later being appointed Commandant of the College. In 1933 he was appointed the first Officer Commanding of the Special Service Battalion In December of that year Colonel Brink was posted to Cape Town to take command of Western Cape Command, where he served till 31 January 1937.
From 1 November 1937 to 1939, he was Director of Army Training at Defence Headquarters.
He was promoted to Deputy Chief of the General Staff on 15 June 1938. From 1940 to 1942, Brink commanded the 1st South African Division during the second East African Campaign.
He also commanded the division during the Western Desert Campaign in North Africa. In 1942, Brink turned over command of the division to Dan Pienaar.
After hurting his back and being declared unfit for field duty, Brink then commanded the Inland Area Command in South Africa from 1942 to 1944.
From 1944 to 1948, Brink was in charge of demobilisation. He had already retired from the Permanent Force in 1946 and promoted to Lieutenant General in the Reserves.