Walter Lorrain Brodie

Walter Lorrain Brodie
Born	28 July 1884 Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	23 August 1918 (aged 34) Behagnies, France  †
Buried at	Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1904-1918
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	The Highland Light Infantry
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Victoria Cross Military Cross

Lieutenant Colonel Walter Lorrain Brodie VC MC (28 July 1885 – 23 August 1918) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Brodie was 29 years old, and a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place on 11 November 1914 near Becelaere, Belgium for which he was awarded the VC:

For conspicuous gallantry near Becelaere on the llth November, in clearing the enemy out of a portion of our trenches which they had succeeded in occupying. Heading the charge, he bayonetted several of the enemy, and thereby relieved a dangerous situation.

As a result of Lieutenant Brodie's promptitude, 80 of the enemy were killed, and 51 taken prisoners.^[1]

He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. Brodie was killed in action near Moeuvres, France, on 23 August 1918.^[2]

He was a Scottish Freemason having been Initiated in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, No. 2, (Edinburgh) on 7 February, was Passed a Fellow of Craft on 28 February and Raised a Master Mason on 28 March 1906. ^[3]

References

Further Reading

• Monuments to Courage
• The Great War 1914-1918 Victoria Cross Freemasons
• The Register of the Victoria Cross
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour
• VCs of the First World War - 1914