Theodore Brodie was born on 10 January 1884, one of the twin sons of George Gordon and Louisa Mary Brodie of ‘Woodlands’ Cheltenham, Gloucestershire – his twin brother was Charles G Brodie who was also a submariner.

Theodore joined the Royal Navy in 1899.  After some time in HMS HINDUSTAN, he was promoted Lieutenant and appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MERCURY in 1908 ‘for Training in Submarines’. His first Command appointment was to HMS MERCURY ‘for Submarine C36 in Command’ in 1910 and subsequently he was re-appointed in command of HMS C33.  This was followed the following year by command of HMS D8.

Promotion to Lieutenant Commander followed in 1913. and the next year he took command of HMS E15, being built by Vickers at Barrow in Furness.

In March 1915 HMS E15 was sent to the Mediterranean with HMS E14, HMS E11 and the Submarine Depot Ship HMS ADAMANT to form the ‘Special Service Flotilla I’ based at Mudros Harbour on the Island of Lemnos.   E15 ran aground at Kephez whilst attempting to make a passage through the Dardanelles into the Sea of Marmora on 17 April 1915. After running aground, the submarine was shelled by the Turkish Forts in the area. In the shelling Theodore Brodie and five of his crew were killed and a further five were wounded. Of those that survived the shelling (and who were taken Prisoner) another eight died as Prisoners of War in Turkey.  

Theodore Brodie is buried in the Chanak Consular Cemetery in Turkey in Plot 1, Row A, Grave No 3.