Lieut.-Colonel Douglas George Brodie
Taken from the Isle of Wight County Press - Saturday 5 July, 1969
Tribute to Scouting Colleagues – The flag flew at half-mast over the annual summer fete of the 1st Northwood Scouts on Saturday as a mark of respect at the death of two scouting stalwarts during the previous week. The tribute was to the memory of Mr. R. Joliffe, who retired in 1967 after 25 years as a Group Treasurer, and Lieut-Colonel D. G. Brodie, who retired last year as Island Scout Commissioner. The fete held in the headquarters field, Wyatt’s Lane was opened by Mr. Gordon Peters, resident comedian at The Pavilion, Sandown, accompanied by his wife.
Star attraction during the afternoon was the band of the 1st Newport (Old Guard) Scout Group. They gave a polished display of playing and formation marching, which has come to be accepted as the band’s trademark. It was the more commendable as they were without their Drum Major, Mr. M. Squibb, who had been called on duty with the Fire Brigade minutes before the band left Newport to attend the fete.
The photographs below are from the event.
Lieut-Colonel D. G. Brodie, who recently retired as Island commissioner after 13 years' service, was presented with a painting of a yacht. A memento badge was also presented to Mrs. Brodie.
Taken from the Isle of Wight County Press Saturday June 28, 1969
COUNTY SCOUT COMMISSIONER
A distinguished Island soldier, whose record of public service extended into several spheres of activity, has been removed by the death on Thursday of Lieut.-Colonel Douglas George Brodle, of Bridge House, Wootton. Son of the late Major G. G. Brodie, M.C., of the I.W. Rifles, and of Mrs. A J. Brodie. JP., of Wootton, Colonel Brodie was commissioned in the Royal Artillery from the RJA.A. in 1914 and served in France in 1918. After service in Germany, he proceeded in 1920 to India, Iraq and Egypt.
From 1923 he was seconded to the Royal Air Force for four years and was promoted Captain in 1929, when he became Adjutant of the 95th Hampshire Yeomanry. Colonel Brodie went to India for six years in 1933, returning in 1940 to form a 9.2 Howitzer Regt.
In the following years he transferred to anti-aircraft and formed a new light AA. Regt, and in 1944 was posted to Civil Affairs, which became the military government on entering Germany, where he remained until the end of 1946. He continued a long family association with the Territorial Forces in the Island when he was appointed to command Princess Beatrice's (IW. Rifles) 428 Coast Regt., R.A., in March 1947.
Following his tour of duty, Colonel Brodie turned to other interests close to his heart — scouting and sailing — and in the following years made a valuable contribution to the development of both in the Island. He was commissioner for British Scouts In Germany from 1954-56 after being District Commissioner for North Wight, and on returning was appointed Commissioner for the Island in 1956.
Under his enthusiastic leadership the Boy Scout movement grew to a lively organisation and in addition to receiving the honours of the association, well deserved tributes were paid to him when he recently retired on reaching the age limit.
As a keen yachtsman, he was a member of tbe Royal Victoria and Island Sailing clubs and of the Solent Clubs Racing Association, and gave much of his time in teaching young scouts and others the craft. He organised many instructional sailing trips as well as taking part in longer journeys, including a trip across the Atlantic on the “Mir”. a 70ft. ketch, in 1953. When he went to the Mediterranean with his wife and daughter in his yawl “Tern II” in 1950, he was awarded the Cruising Club's cup for the best cruise of the year.
He was elected to the County Council for the Newport and Fairlee division in April, 1952, and resigned early in 1954. He served on the Civil Defence, County Planning and Roads committees and represented the council on the Southern Sea Fisheries Divisional Council.
Additional photos from Barry's archive:
Martin Sharp, the Assistant Warden at
Corf Campsite, is producing a series of histories of notable members of
Isle of Wight Scouts. He's working on a frame for Douglas Brodie to put in the Mattinson Centre at Corf. These are some of his items of memorabillia.
