Personal info
- Name: Walter Lorrain BRODIE
- D.O.B: 28th Jul, 1884
- D.O.A: 7th Nov, 1914
- D.O.D: 25th Apr, 1918
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Captain, 2nd Battalion The Highland Light Infantry, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
Near Becelaere, Belgium 7 November 1914
7 November 1914
The First World War 1914
At about 4.30am on 7 November 1914, near Becelaere (Beselare), east of Zillebeke and north of the Menin Road, the Germans, who had advanced their trenches to within 15 yards of the British line, mounted an attack on 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (HLI), entering their trenches. In a letter home, Captain W L Brodie, the Battalion Machine-Gun Officer, described the incident as ‘a bit of a scrape’.
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry near Becelaere on the 11th 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.