BRODIE George

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral, recorded as Lieutenant, The Black Watch

Malvern News, 16th September 1916:
Private G. Brodie has been wounded. He sent a field post card from France and another from Southampton. He expected to be in hospital in London. Private Brodie has two elder brothers in the Worcestershire Yeomanry.

Malvern News, 11th August 1917:
News has been received at his home Woodbury, Malvern Link of the death by wounds on the 2nd August of 2nd Lieutenant G. Brodie, Seaforth Highlanders, one of three soldier sons of the late Sgt Major Brodie and Mrs Brodie. Lieutenant Brodie was educated at Lyttelton Grammar School and joined the reporting staff of the Malvern News. After being in the office for 18 months he joined the staff of the Berrows Worcester Journal and Worcester Daily Times at Worcester and was a member of this company when he enlisted. He was a member of the Malvern Priory choir up to the time of his enlistment and at the service on Sunday night, the Vicar (Reverend Linzee Giles) referred to his death and expressed the sympathy of the congregation with the family.

2nd Lieutenant Brodie had a rare and charming personality. He was public-spirited, had genial and engaging qualities and was exceedingly modest. He had dramatic and entertaining gifts, which he exercised ungrudgingly either in charitable or festival performances, notably works of Shakespeare. He took part in many Shakespeare performances in Malvern and Worcester, specially distinguishing himself as Fabian with Mr Croker King in the performances of Twelfth Night in 1912. He had too, a nice taste in humorous song, which he would often employ at small social gatherings.

The circumstances of his enlistment were especially interesting. When war broke out, three of his brothers were mobilised with the Yeomanry (one has since died), 2nd Lieutenant Brodie himself was anxious to enlist, and naturally felt that he would like to join the regiment in which his brothers were, and with which his father had been so long associated. He offered himself at the recruiting office, but the doctor rejected him. He was much distressed and went to the doctor who had attended him at home and submitted to an examination. The result was that he obtained a letter, which stated that he must have been suffering from some temporary excitement when examined for military purposes. He took this to the doctor at the recruiting office, but he declined to re-examine him. Forthwith, he went to Perth, and was passed medically fit for service and he joined the Black Watch.

He went out in due course to France and after being out for 12 months, was wounded. On recovering from his wounds he was sent for training for a commission and was gazetted to the Seaforth Highlanders in May 1916. He had in fact been out for about two months. He was aged 21. His relations with his colleagues were of the happiest description. He had a cheery temperament and was unselfish and loyal, and was regarded by them with affection.

Of 2nd Lieutenant Brodie’s two brothers in the Yeomanry, one R.S.M. J.K. Brodie was wounded in fighting in Egypt. He came home and happened to be on leave at the time 2nd Lieutenant Brodie was at home prior to leaving for France a month or two or ago; the second, S.S.M. Brodie was mentioned in despatches in July 1916.

Two different photographs of Private/Second Lieutenant G. Brodie of Malvern can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 23rd September 1916 and Saturday 18th August 1917, available at Worcestershire Archives.