George Brodie was the fourth son of the late Sqn-Sgt-Maj J and Mrs Brodie of Woodbury, Highfield Road. George attended Malvern Link C E School and the Lyttelton Grammar School. He grew up in a military household; his father was for many years the instructor of the Malvern Squadron of the Worcestershire Yeomanry and before the war began his three older brothers, Hugh, John and Norman were all serving in the Yeomanry. At the outbreak of war he was working on the reporting staff of the Worcester Daily Times. He tried to enlist to join his brothers, but was turned down on medical grounds. Undeterred he travelled to Perth and joined the Black Watch in May 1915.

He went out to France and first went into the trenches in November 1915 (he wrote about this for the Malvern News). In September 1916, Brodie was wounded and invalided home, and some time in a London hospital. During this time he applied for a commission and was accepted. At this time the shortage of junior officers was such that many men with a grammar school education were encouraged to offer themselves as officers. In May 1917, after six months training he was gazetted as a Temporary Second Lieutenant and was attached to the 8th Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders.

He had been in France for about two months when, during an attack on the German lines he had to take command of his company, (more senior officers being killed or wounded). He realised the situation was critical and, without waiting for orders, moved his men forward. Just before the tide turned in the British force’s favour, he was badly wounded by a German bullet. Despite efforts made at the field ambulance he died.

Like his brothers he had been a member of the Malvern Priory choir, and had stayed on after his education finished as an alto. At his enlistment the organist, choir and clergy presented him with a silver cigarette case and at evening service on the 19th August, Vicar (Revd Linzee Giles) paid tribute to his rare and charming personality and expressed the sympathy of the congregation with the family. Dr Hamand, the organist described him as a “most lovable fellow” . In his autobiography he describes a meeting with him after his commission: “Before returning to the front he came to tea with us, wearing his new uniform… He looked so gay and debonair, but he had a presentiment that he would never return, and said as the train began to move out of the station (and we expressed the hope to see him again before long), ‘No I shall be a casualty.'”

His Personality

The Malvern News noted, “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.”

First Experiences

L/Cpl G Brodie went to the front on the and relates his first experience of the trenches: “…though short, it was quite long enough. We crawled in on Tuesday. I should think the trenches are almost at their worst now. The mud and slush are beastly and we had to walk several miles through a labyrinth of dirt. It was an unfortunate start. We had hardly realised that we were under fire, and kept popping our heads up freely. Part of the battalion went into the first line trenches and our part was in the support trenches. The trench which I was in was an old German one – not in the best condition. There were one or two dugouts, but mine was just a hole in the side of the trench. By lying with my knees well up could get into it, but if I wanted to lie full length, my feet had to go outside. I was in charge of a guard. It was a wet, cold job but it suited me fine rather than sleeping in my dugout. I spent most of the time walking up and down to keep warm and watching the rates; whose forms were silhouetted in an almost constant procession across a sort of a bridge which spanned the trench. As far mice, there were hundreds knocking about. Just before dinner on Wednesday. I was warned with one or two others to parade at HQ. It turned out that we were to be sent back to — (the place where we were billeted with cows and things) to go to a bombing course and here we are. I was rather relieved to be out of the trenches for a bit and it was a treat to have a sleep in a dry billet (we are in quite a decent barn). The journey from the trench was rotted. We had a good seven miles to go, mostly through the trench – I cursed my pack before the end of the first! We were crossing a bit of open country, when the Germans spotted us and sent a few shells after us. They were much too close to be pleasant and we had to stay under cover until it began to get dark. We left the trench about 1.30pm and arrived here just before 9pm, packs on the whole way.

How Lieut. Brodie Fell

“His prompt action during German Attack”

Second-Lieutenant George Brodie of Malvern

His mother received a letter from the Lieut-Colonel of George’s Battalion, dated 5th August: “It is with the deepest sympathy that I write to you of your son’s death in action. At the commencement of the attack he was commanding his platoon; later on, as a result of officer casualties, he was in command of his Company. On the afternoon of the following day the Germans made a strong attack on our new position. Your son’s Company was in support, and without waiting for orders he quite rightly moved his men forward to the front line , where his men assisted very largely in driving the enemy back in disorder. Just before the tide turned in our favour, your son was wounded by a German bullet, and he was forced to go back to Battalion Headquarters. From there he was taken to a dressing, where he succumbed. Those who saw him say that he was cheerful and not suffering great pain. We buried him in the military cemetery.

“It may perhaps help in your grief to know the high esteem in which your son was held by all ranks of the regiment and he met his death at the head of his men, at a time when his prompt action resulted in the line won the day before being held firm against a strong enemy attack. This carries to you the deepest sympathy from all ranks of the Battalion.”

His Brothers

Of his three older brothers, Hugh, died in England aged 28 on 25th May 1916 and was buried at St Matthias Churchyard.

Regimental Sergeant-Major John Kinsman Brodie served at Gallipoli and in Egypt, and was present at the Battle of Qatia. He was awarded the Serbian Cross of St George and was mentioned in despatches. He was severely wounded on the 9/1/17 and was invalided home in March 1917. Having sufficiently recovered, he was commissioned into the 5th Reserve Cavalry Regiment in August 1918.

Norman Brodie joined the Worcestershire Yeomanry in October 1911, aged 18 years. He served at Gallipoli and in Egypt and was twice mentioned in despatches – after three years of war he promoted to Squadron Sergeant Major. Discharged in 1919, Brodie joined the North Rhodesia Police, culminating his long and distinguished career with the award of his Meritorious Service Medal in 1945 and a successful contribution towards the Royal Visit of 1947. He finally retired as a Superintendent of Police in 1950.

Malvern News 5/6/1915, 10/7/1915, 3/6/1916, 16/9/1916, 11/8/1917, 18/8/1917, 29/6/1918, 3/8/1918, 19/10/1918
Berrows Worcester Journal Picture Supplement 18/8/1917
Stevens Annual for 1914 Malvern 1914
Hamand, L A An Organist Remembers St Albans 1949
James, Brig E A British Regiments 1914 - 1918 London 1993