People

Major Charles Gordon Brodie M.C. 1860 — 1933

His death occurred at his home Fernhill, Wootton on Saturday 9th September at the aged of 73, he had been ill for some months and he had appeared to be making a recovery, but unfortunately suffered a relapse. His family was of Scottish origin and he was born at Uckfield, Sussex in 1860 and was the eldest son Mr. Frederick Brodie and his wife Ada Blanche (1836-1916) who was the daughter of Sir Robert Carden. Bart.

Educated privately, he studied at the Middlesex Hospital where he qualified as a doctor obtaining the qualifications F.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. He was for several years demonstrator of anatomy and assistant surgeon at the North West London and City Orthopaedic Hospitals. A book he wrote during this period was entitled “Dissections Illustrated—A graphic handbook for students of human anatomy”.

On the death of his father Frederick in 1896 at the age of 73 at Fern Hill, Charles moved to the island and took up residence at the house. He married Antoinette Jane Armstrong [1864-1948] the daughter of the late Major General Edward F. H. Armstrong, Medical Staff Corps of Hove, Brighton in the same year and gave up practicing as a surgeon on moving to the island. Being resident on the island he became very involved in work of public bodies, these included the Rural District Council, Guardians and the Joint Hospital Board, he was also involved in founding and administration of Fairlee Hospital, Newport.

When Wootton was included in the Borough of Newport under the Review Order he was elected to represent the village on the new council, he however declined the honour of being nominated as an alderman.

He was a very active member of the group of people who raised funds to ensure the building of St Marks Church in Station Road, Wootton in 1909 and remained an active member of the church throughout his life. He was also involved in other organisations within the village, this included chairman of the local Conservative Association, vice president of the British Legion and a manager of the Wootton National School in New Road. His hobbies included playing for the local village cricket team in his younger days, the study of astronomy, he was a member British and French astronomy societies and this interest was borne out with the building of an observatory in the grounds of Fern Hill, rifle shooting and science. He was also a member and lecturer for the St John Ambulance Brigade and the first County Commissioner for the scouts.

Sometime after moving to the island he became a member of the volunteer and territorial movement and became an officer in the 8th Hampshire Regiment in which he served for 14 years. With the outbreak of the First World War and the appeal for the “Kitchener Army” he raised the 221st Field Company of the Royal Engineers on the island for service on the Western Front, the group trained on the island and Buxton, Derbyshire. They were then posted to active service in 1916 and were involved in laying water pipes for the 4th Army on the Somme and in other areas of the fighting. The company was on active service until the end of the conflict and Major Brodie was twice mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Military Cross.

Interment

The interment took place at St Edmunds Church, Wootton on the 13th September with the service being conducted by the Rector G. C. Seymour. There was a very large gathering at the church with a total of over 160 names being listed in the newspaper report of the funeral at the time. The Mayor of Newport and Ryde and other councillors were in their full robes, as were several serving officers. The two funeral hymns were sung, these were “Peace, perfect peace” and “On the resurrection morning” the organist played Mendelssohn “O rest in the Lord” at the close of the service. The coffin was laid to rest was in a laurel lined grave covered with Michaelmas daisies in a sheltered corner of the churchyard. Flags were flown at half-mast on the Guildhall in Newport.

Major Brodie leaves a wife, son and four daughters
Chief mourners were Mrs Brodie, Captain D. G. Brodie [son], Misses Irene, Joan, Cecily and Aileen Brodie [daughters]. Major F. C. Brodie [brother], Mrs. Waring [sister] there were also other family member present at the service.

Funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr W. H. Please of Wootton.

Editors note; - There are other articles within this site relating to the Brodie family, these are Mrs A. J. Brodie [People] and an article relating to Fern Hill [Properties], there are also photographs of Fern Hill House in the gallery section

Source: Isle of Wight County Press, 16th September 1933