Private John Brodie

Private John Brodie, 16th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Scots. He was killed in action in France on 16th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive on the River Lys and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Ploegsteert, Belgium. On that day the Battalion along with 15th Royal Scots fought a valiant rearguard action against very heavy German attacks on Ballieul and Hazebrouck. The Battalion suffered 567 casualties out of a fighting strength of 785 Officers and men. He had been born in Wooler and before enlisting in Newcastle he had been employed as a Painter and decorator with Mr Robson of Wooler. His Battalion was known as ” McRae’s Battalion after Sir George McRae who raised it in November 1914. It was originally comprised of professional footballers from Hearts, Hibs, Dunfermline, Falkirk, Raith Rovers together with supporters of those Clubs. By 1918 there were not many of the originals left. The photos show Allied troops in defensive positions.

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