Thomas Brodie
Encyclopedia
Major-General Thomas Brodie, CB
, CBE
, DSO
(1903–1993) was a British Army
soldier who saw service in World War II
, Palestine
and the Korean War
. After retirement in 1955, he became involved with the British pressure group, the Economic League
.
, to Thomas Brodie. He attended Durham University
, gaining a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1924. In 1938, Brodie married Jane Margaret Chapman Walker. The couple had three sons and a daughter.
Brodie was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant into the Cheshire Regiment
on 3 February 1926. In May 1936, recently promoted to Captain
, he was appointed as the Cheshire's Regimental Adjutant
. From September 1939, he served as an instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
He was promoted to Major in April 1941 and between 1942 and 1943 as an acting
Lieutenant Colonel, Brodie commanded the 2nd Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
. From November 1943 until March 1945, he commanded the 14th Infantry Brigade in India and Burma (subsequently redesignated in November 1944 as the 14th Airlanding Brigade). In this period, his substantive rank remained as major, but he received acting and temporary ranks of Lt Colonel, Colonel and Brigadier
.
After the War, Brodie returned to the Cheshires and between 1946 and 1947 he was Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion. In May 1947, he was formally promoted to Lt. Colonel and, within a few days, to Colonel. Between 1947 and 1948, he served in Palestine
, being appointed CBE and mentioned in despatches.
As a "local" Major-General
(he received the substantive rank of Brigadier in October 1952), Brodie commanded the 29th Infantry Brigade in Korea
. He participated in the difficult Third Battle of Seoul
, rallying his troops and counter-attacking. For his service in Korea, he received the DSO and the US Silver Star
(twice) and the Legion of Merit
.
Between 1952 and July 1955, Brodie was General Officer Commanding
, 1st Division, based in the Middle East
. He retired from the Army on 1 January 1957.
Brody was appointed as Honorary Colonel, The Cheshire Regiment (a ceremonial role) on 26 December1955 and served until December 1961. He was associated with the British right-wing pressure group, the Economic League, from 1957 until 1984.
Thomas Brodie died at Basingstoke
, Hampshire on 1 September 1993. His wife, Margaret, had died the previous year.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(1903–1993) was a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
soldier who saw service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Palestine
Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine existed while the British Mandate for Palestine, which formally began in September 1923 and terminated in May 1948, was in effect...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. After retirement in 1955, he became involved with the British pressure group, the Economic League
Economic League (UK)
The Economic League was an organisation in the United Kingdom dedicated to opposing what they saw as subversion and action against free enterprise....
.
Military career
Brodie was born on 20 November 1903 in Bellingham, NorthumberlandBellingham, Northumberland
Bellingham is a village in Northumberland, to the north-west of Newcastle upon Tyne and is situated on the Hareshaw burn at its confluence with the River North Tyne. Hareshaw Linn is a waterfall on the Hareshaw Burn near Bellingham. It is pronounced Bell-ing-jumFamous as a stopping point on the...
, to Thomas Brodie. He attended Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, gaining a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1924. In 1938, Brodie married Jane Margaret Chapman Walker. The couple had three sons and a daughter.
Brodie was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant into the Cheshire Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
The Cheshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division.The regiment was created in 1881 as part of the Childers reforms by the linking of the 22nd Regiment of Foot and the militia and rifle volunteers of Cheshire...
on 3 February 1926. In May 1936, recently promoted to Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
, he was appointed as the Cheshire's Regimental Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
. From September 1939, he served as an instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
He was promoted to Major in April 1941 and between 1942 and 1943 as an acting
Acting (rank)
An Acting rank, is a military designation allowing an commissioned- or non-commissioned officer to assume a rank—usually higher and usually temporary—with the pay and allowances appropriate to that grade. As such, an officer may be ordered back to the previous grade...
Lieutenant Colonel, Brodie commanded the 2nd Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
The Manchester Regiment
The Manchester Regiment was a regiment of the British army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 63rd Regiment of Foot and the 96th Regiment of Foot...
. From November 1943 until March 1945, he commanded the 14th Infantry Brigade in India and Burma (subsequently redesignated in November 1944 as the 14th Airlanding Brigade). In this period, his substantive rank remained as major, but he received acting and temporary ranks of Lt Colonel, Colonel and Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
.
After the War, Brodie returned to the Cheshires and between 1946 and 1947 he was Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion. In May 1947, he was formally promoted to Lt. Colonel and, within a few days, to Colonel. Between 1947 and 1948, he served in Palestine
Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine existed while the British Mandate for Palestine, which formally began in September 1923 and terminated in May 1948, was in effect...
, being appointed CBE and mentioned in despatches.
| "At last after weeks of frustration we have nothing between us and the Chinese. I have no intention that this Brigade Group will retire before the enemy unless ordered by higher authority in order to conform with general movement. If you meet him you are to knock hell out of him with everything you got. You are only to give ground on my orders." |
| Brigadier Thomas Brodie's order to the 29th Independent Infantry Brigade during the defence of Seoul |
As a "local" Major-General
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
(he received the substantive rank of Brigadier in October 1952), Brodie commanded the 29th Infantry Brigade in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. He participated in the difficult Third Battle of Seoul
Third Battle of Seoul
The Third Battle of Seoul, also known as the Chinese New Year's Offensive, the January–Fourth Retreat or the Third Phase Campaign Western SectorThe Eastern Sector is the First and Second Battle of Wonju. , was a battle of the Korean War, which took place from December 31, 1950 to January 7, 1951...
, rallying his troops and counter-attacking. For his service in Korea, he received the DSO and the US Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
(twice) and the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
.
Between 1952 and July 1955, Brodie was General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
, 1st Division, based in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. He retired from the Army on 1 January 1957.
Brody was appointed as Honorary Colonel, The Cheshire Regiment (a ceremonial role) on 26 December1955 and served until December 1961. He was associated with the British right-wing pressure group, the Economic League, from 1957 until 1984.
Thomas Brodie died at Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
, Hampshire on 1 September 1993. His wife, Margaret, had died the previous year.
Honours and awards
- Companion of the Order of the Bath - 1 January 1954
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire - 7 January 1949
- Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
- 7 September 1951 - Mention in Despatches - 26 April 1945
- Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
(United States) - 8 June 1951 and 10 August 1954 - Officer of the Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(United States) - 30 October 1953