Son of the late Hugh Brodie of Brodie, and Lady Eleanor Brodie, of Brodie, Brodie Castle, Forres. In 1897 he joined the British South Africa Company in London and for the next eighteen years was closely connected with development work in South Africa, being appointed successively Joint Assistant Secretary and Secretary of the Company. He also acted as Joint Secretary to the Rhodes Trust and for a time as Secretary to the Rhodesia and Mashonaland Railway Company and the African Trans-Continental Telegraph Company. His work brought him into association with Mr. Cecil Rhodes, Sir Alfred Beit, Sir Starr Jameson, Earl Grey and other distinguished South Africa pioneers. He was released at his own request from the Company's service in June 1915 and obtained a commission in the Cameron Highlanders, being promoted to Captain shortly before his death. ref. South African Roll of Honour 1914-1918