Walter Lorrain Brodie
Captain, 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
- Register No.
- 123 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry all Highland Light Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 11 November 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 12th Dec 1914 all of 1914 →
- Born
- 28th July 1885 at Edinburgh
- Died
- 23rd August 1918 in France near Moeuvres
- Memorial / grave
- Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France
Digest of citation
On 11th November 1914 near Becelaere, Belgium, Captain Brodie led a charge to evict the enemy from a portion of our trenches which they had succeeded in occupying. He bayoneted several of the enemy himself and relieved a dangerous situation. As a result of the Captain's prompt action, 80 of the enemy were killed and 51 taken prisoner
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BRODIE, Walter Lorrain (Reg. No 123)
Captain 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
London Gazetted on 12th Dec 1914.
Born on 28th July 1885 at Edinburgh.
Died on 23rd August 1918 in France near Moeuvres.
Memorial at Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 11th November 1914 near Becelaere, Belgium, Captain Brodie led a charge to evict the enemy from a portion of our trenches which they had succeeded in occupying. He bayoneted several of the enemy himself and relieved a dangerous situation. As a result of the Captain's prompt action, 80 of the enemy were killed and 51 taken prisoner.
Additional information: He was the son of a Chartered Accountant, John William and Mrs Grace Mary (née Lorrain) Brodie. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In March 1904 he got his Commission in the Highland Light Infantry. He joined the 2nd Battalion at its unit in Jersey and from there to Fort George in Edinburgh. He attended several courses becoming adept at riding, signalling and on the machine-gun. He served for four years in Ireland (1909-1913) He was promoted to Lieutenant on 30thJune 1908 and was put in command of the machine-gunners after being stationed at Aldershot (1913). He embarked for France in August 1918 and he was promoted to Captain a month later. (10th September.) The following November he won the Victoria Cross at Becelaere (London Gazette on the 12th December 1914.) Early in 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 1st January 1917). He was promoted Brevet Major and put in Command of the 2/10th Liverpool Scottish. In January 1918. Later that year (April) he took command of his old Regiment the HLI as a Lt. Colonel. He was killed by a bullet as he led his men into action on 23rd of August 1918.
Additional information
He was the son of a Chartered Accountant, John William and Mrs Grace Mary (née Lorrain) Brodie. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In March 1904 he got his Commission in the Highland Light Infantry. He joined the 2nd Battalion at its unit in Jersey and from there to Fort George in Edinburgh. He attended several courses becoming adept at riding, signalling and on the machine-gun. He served for four years in Ireland (1909-1913) He was promoted to Lieutenant on 30thJune 1908 and was put in command of the machine-gunners after being stationed at Aldershot (1913). He embarked for France in August 1918 and he was promoted to Captain a month later. (10th September.) The following November he won the Victoria Cross at Becelaere (London Gazette on the 12th December 1914.) Early in 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 1st January 1917). He was promoted Brevet Major and put in Command of the 2/10th Liverpool Scottish. In January 1918. Later that year (April) he took command of his old Regiment the HLI as a Lt. Colonel. He was killed by a bullet as he led his men into action on 23rd of August 1918.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France
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