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Lot Essay
C.B.E. London Gazette 1.1.1953.
D.S.O. London Gazette 24.5.1945. Recommendation states 'In one month, 15 January to 15 February, 100th Indian Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Rodham, has made rapid movement and first class tactics cleared the Japanese out of position after position, all of which they had every intention of holding, thus gaining with few casualties, but in a very short time, the North Bank of the Irrawaddy River, thus enabling preparations thereafter to cross the river; the enemy made three strong attempts to establish themselves on the North Bank at Letmakpin, Satpangon and Nyaung. Each of these attempts, after very hard fighting, were decisively foiled, the enemy losing disastrously at each attempt.
During this anxious period, Brigadier Rodham conducted the Battle with consummate skill and coolness, and refused to allow the enemy to deter him from his main object, which was to establish a Bridgehead on the South Bank of the Irrawaddy River. His preliminary training was carried on, and his preparations so cunningly and successfully concealed from the enemy, in spite of their many reconnaissance and raiding parties in the neighbourhood, that on 12 February he put his Bridgehead across as a complete surprise to the enemy, and after heavy fighting in which a big toll was taken of the enemy, held it against many determined attacks and attempts at infiltration. The first flight of the first Battalion to cross failed to make headway against the strong stream running and had its two leading Companies in midstream, at the time when it was expected they would have established themselves on the far bank. A less determined Commander than Brigadier Rodham might have called the operation off for the night, but he called into operation his alternate plan, skilfully re-organised the order of crossing, and by first light had a Battalion and a half established on the far bank. Throughout, Brigadier Rodham has shown the qualities of a fine Commander and his Brigade has been excellently handled'.
Bar to D.S.O. London Gazette 28.6.1945. Recommendation states 'During June, July and August 1944, Brigadier Rodham commanded 49 Independent Infantry Brigade in almost continuous operations against the Japanese, first east of Palel and then at Sibon. The latter was a particularly difficult operation in jungle covered hills on the flank of the main axis of advance of 23 Indian Division. His successful conduct of both of these operations not only enabled offensive operations to be initiated but contributed largely to the capture of Tamu and rout of the Japanese forces in this area. Throughout the whole period Brigadier Rodham showed untiring energy, courage and devotion to duty. His Brigade was tired but operated for six weeks in the monsoon without change of clothes or cover. In spite of this it fought magnificently. That it did so was largely due to his personal example. Whatever the conditions he remained calm and cheerful with a will to maintain the offensive. This was particularly marked in the closing phases of the Sibong operation when he was faced by two fresh Japanese Battalions. In the defeat of these and the subsequent occupation of Tamu, his personal leadership was a big factor. In my opinion, his successful accomplishment of the tasks set to him under the worst conditions of terrain and weather merits high recognition'.
M.C. London Gazette 28.9.1921 'For gallantry and devotion to duty during the action in the Takkizam on 23 April 1921. When the enemy opened an intense fire on the convoy and the forward Platoons in the river bed, and these Platoons were running short of ammunition, he took command of a Platoon to carry up more ammunition, and was wounded in the arm almost as they started. Disregarding a severe wound in his forearm, he planned a fresh line of advance, under a heavy fire led the Platoon to within 40 yards of the front line, where again he was severely wounded. His very gallant example and coolness inspired all ranks and enabled the object to be achieved without check'.
Mention in Despatches London Gazettes 27.9.1921; 10.1.1946 and 9.5.1946.
Brigadier Cuthbert Harold Boyd "Roddy" Rodham, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., was born in Cornwall in 1900, the son of Rear-Admiral H. Rodham, C.M.G., and was educated at Dover College prior to being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army in April 1919.
Going straight from the Cadet College, Quetta to the 2/39 Royal Garhwal Rifles, he quickly saw action in the Third Afghan War, afterwards being attached to the 2/2 Gurkhas on the North West Frontier. Rodham then joined the 2/127 Baluchis for Skeen's punitive operations against the Mahsuds, Tochi and Wana Wazirs, and was lent to the 2/25 Punjabis with whom he won his M.C. at Takkizam on 23.4.1921, receiving on that occasion multiple wounds - 'Neck 1, Arm 1, Right Thigh 3'. The latter part of 1923 and early 1924 found him participating in the Dayra Khan operations east of the Indus with his beloved 2/18 Royal Garhwal Rifles.
Rodham's devotion to the Regiment was as fanatical as it was legendary and, whilst on the whole a gentle giant of man at 19 stone, he could on occasion be roused to physical violence in defence of it. A 2nd Battalion story relates how at a Regimental guest night in Peshawar, a young and ill-advised Officer of another Corps 'thought fit to twit Roddy', telling him that he belonged to the 'Housewife' Regiment, by punning the word Garhwarli with Garh wali meaning housewife. The normally placid Rodham exploded, seized up the offender and slung him bodily through the Mess windows; when on leave in the U.K., Rodham was well known as a rugby footballer, turning out for Blackheath and the Army.
Advanced to Captain in 1925, he was appointed Adjutant in the same year and held the post for the next four years. In 1930 the Aridi and Red Shirt rebellions provided a welcome diversion from the daily round at the Regimnt's base in Lansdowne, with Rodham back on active service in the Razmali Column and on the Frontier as a Company Commander. Advanced to Major in April 1937, he brought the Garhwal representatives of the Regiment to England for the Coronation of George VI in the same month, and acted as one of the Staff Officers of the Indian Contingent. A confirmed bachelor and an avuncular figure to younger Officers of his Battalion, he was obliged in 1939, much against his will, to attend a Senior Officer's course at Belgaum, it hitherto having been his professed belief that extra regimental employ was a bad thing and attendance at the Staff College a capital crime. Nonetheless, the course radically changed his thinking and there followed a number of Staff appointments.
Between 1942-44, Rodham commanded the 6/18 Royal Garhwal Rifles on the North West Frontier, but in April 1944 received his first real active service posting as Second-in-Command of the 1st Indian Infantry Brigade at Imphal. As evidenced by the citations of his 'Double D.S.O.', his subsequent appointments as C.O. of 49 Indian Infantry Division and 100 Indian Infantry Brigade on the Burma front witnessed a good deal of hard fighting, not least in the Irrawaddy crossing and at Sibong. Indeed Rodham's masterly planning, leadership and professionalism now won him his first Divisional Command, when in August 1945 he was appointed C.O. of the 20th Indian Infantry Division. Alas, this was to prove a thankless task which involved a brief to restore the status quo in French Indo-China, as well as guarding thousands of Japanese P.O.Ws.
Between 1946-47, Rodham served as Director of Infantry at G.H.Q. India. On partition, however, he went to Pakistan where he became a Brigade Commander between 1948-51, a Director of Infantry between 1951-57, and finally Deptuy Chief of General Staff Pakistan Army between 1957-63. On retirement from the Pakistani Army, "Roddy" Rodham elected to stay on, and worked for some years as Director of the Pakistan Government.
By way of a perk he was given in perpetuity a quarter in Flashman's Hotel, Rawalpindi, which was subsequently modernised. Unfortunately the owners saw no financial gain in refurbishing the English Brigadier's rooms, which thus remained shabby and without air conditioning. Rodham continued, however, to enjoy a tremendous reputation amongst the upper echelons of the Pakistani Army, and was equally beloved by many former servicemen. Through friends in the British High Commission he was kept supplied with whisky and spares for his motor car. The Brigadier died in 1973 and left his wordly goods to his bearer and friend, Mohammed.
D.S.O. London Gazette 24.5.1945. Recommendation states 'In one month, 15 January to 15 February, 100th Indian Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Rodham, has made rapid movement and first class tactics cleared the Japanese out of position after position, all of which they had every intention of holding, thus gaining with few casualties, but in a very short time, the North Bank of the Irrawaddy River, thus enabling preparations thereafter to cross the river; the enemy made three strong attempts to establish themselves on the North Bank at Letmakpin, Satpangon and Nyaung. Each of these attempts, after very hard fighting, were decisively foiled, the enemy losing disastrously at each attempt.
During this anxious period, Brigadier Rodham conducted the Battle with consummate skill and coolness, and refused to allow the enemy to deter him from his main object, which was to establish a Bridgehead on the South Bank of the Irrawaddy River. His preliminary training was carried on, and his preparations so cunningly and successfully concealed from the enemy, in spite of their many reconnaissance and raiding parties in the neighbourhood, that on 12 February he put his Bridgehead across as a complete surprise to the enemy, and after heavy fighting in which a big toll was taken of the enemy, held it against many determined attacks and attempts at infiltration. The first flight of the first Battalion to cross failed to make headway against the strong stream running and had its two leading Companies in midstream, at the time when it was expected they would have established themselves on the far bank. A less determined Commander than Brigadier Rodham might have called the operation off for the night, but he called into operation his alternate plan, skilfully re-organised the order of crossing, and by first light had a Battalion and a half established on the far bank. Throughout, Brigadier Rodham has shown the qualities of a fine Commander and his Brigade has been excellently handled'.
Bar to D.S.O. London Gazette 28.6.1945. Recommendation states 'During June, July and August 1944, Brigadier Rodham commanded 49 Independent Infantry Brigade in almost continuous operations against the Japanese, first east of Palel and then at Sibon. The latter was a particularly difficult operation in jungle covered hills on the flank of the main axis of advance of 23 Indian Division. His successful conduct of both of these operations not only enabled offensive operations to be initiated but contributed largely to the capture of Tamu and rout of the Japanese forces in this area. Throughout the whole period Brigadier Rodham showed untiring energy, courage and devotion to duty. His Brigade was tired but operated for six weeks in the monsoon without change of clothes or cover. In spite of this it fought magnificently. That it did so was largely due to his personal example. Whatever the conditions he remained calm and cheerful with a will to maintain the offensive. This was particularly marked in the closing phases of the Sibong operation when he was faced by two fresh Japanese Battalions. In the defeat of these and the subsequent occupation of Tamu, his personal leadership was a big factor. In my opinion, his successful accomplishment of the tasks set to him under the worst conditions of terrain and weather merits high recognition'.
M.C. London Gazette 28.9.1921 'For gallantry and devotion to duty during the action in the Takkizam on 23 April 1921. When the enemy opened an intense fire on the convoy and the forward Platoons in the river bed, and these Platoons were running short of ammunition, he took command of a Platoon to carry up more ammunition, and was wounded in the arm almost as they started. Disregarding a severe wound in his forearm, he planned a fresh line of advance, under a heavy fire led the Platoon to within 40 yards of the front line, where again he was severely wounded. His very gallant example and coolness inspired all ranks and enabled the object to be achieved without check'.
Mention in Despatches London Gazettes 27.9.1921; 10.1.1946 and 9.5.1946.
Brigadier Cuthbert Harold Boyd "Roddy" Rodham, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., was born in Cornwall in 1900, the son of Rear-Admiral H. Rodham, C.M.G., and was educated at Dover College prior to being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army in April 1919.
Going straight from the Cadet College, Quetta to the 2/39 Royal Garhwal Rifles, he quickly saw action in the Third Afghan War, afterwards being attached to the 2/2 Gurkhas on the North West Frontier. Rodham then joined the 2/127 Baluchis for Skeen's punitive operations against the Mahsuds, Tochi and Wana Wazirs, and was lent to the 2/25 Punjabis with whom he won his M.C. at Takkizam on 23.4.1921, receiving on that occasion multiple wounds - 'Neck 1, Arm 1, Right Thigh 3'. The latter part of 1923 and early 1924 found him participating in the Dayra Khan operations east of the Indus with his beloved 2/18 Royal Garhwal Rifles.
Rodham's devotion to the Regiment was as fanatical as it was legendary and, whilst on the whole a gentle giant of man at 19 stone, he could on occasion be roused to physical violence in defence of it. A 2nd Battalion story relates how at a Regimental guest night in Peshawar, a young and ill-advised Officer of another Corps 'thought fit to twit Roddy', telling him that he belonged to the 'Housewife' Regiment, by punning the word Garhwarli with Garh wali meaning housewife. The normally placid Rodham exploded, seized up the offender and slung him bodily through the Mess windows; when on leave in the U.K., Rodham was well known as a rugby footballer, turning out for Blackheath and the Army.
Advanced to Captain in 1925, he was appointed Adjutant in the same year and held the post for the next four years. In 1930 the Aridi and Red Shirt rebellions provided a welcome diversion from the daily round at the Regimnt's base in Lansdowne, with Rodham back on active service in the Razmali Column and on the Frontier as a Company Commander. Advanced to Major in April 1937, he brought the Garhwal representatives of the Regiment to England for the Coronation of George VI in the same month, and acted as one of the Staff Officers of the Indian Contingent. A confirmed bachelor and an avuncular figure to younger Officers of his Battalion, he was obliged in 1939, much against his will, to attend a Senior Officer's course at Belgaum, it hitherto having been his professed belief that extra regimental employ was a bad thing and attendance at the Staff College a capital crime. Nonetheless, the course radically changed his thinking and there followed a number of Staff appointments.
Between 1942-44, Rodham commanded the 6/18 Royal Garhwal Rifles on the North West Frontier, but in April 1944 received his first real active service posting as Second-in-Command of the 1st Indian Infantry Brigade at Imphal. As evidenced by the citations of his 'Double D.S.O.', his subsequent appointments as C.O. of 49 Indian Infantry Division and 100 Indian Infantry Brigade on the Burma front witnessed a good deal of hard fighting, not least in the Irrawaddy crossing and at Sibong. Indeed Rodham's masterly planning, leadership and professionalism now won him his first Divisional Command, when in August 1945 he was appointed C.O. of the 20th Indian Infantry Division. Alas, this was to prove a thankless task which involved a brief to restore the status quo in French Indo-China, as well as guarding thousands of Japanese P.O.Ws.
Between 1946-47, Rodham served as Director of Infantry at G.H.Q. India. On partition, however, he went to Pakistan where he became a Brigade Commander between 1948-51, a Director of Infantry between 1951-57, and finally Deptuy Chief of General Staff Pakistan Army between 1957-63. On retirement from the Pakistani Army, "Roddy" Rodham elected to stay on, and worked for some years as Director of the Pakistan Government.
By way of a perk he was given in perpetuity a quarter in Flashman's Hotel, Rawalpindi, which was subsequently modernised. Unfortunately the owners saw no financial gain in refurbishing the English Brigadier's rooms, which thus remained shabby and without air conditioning. Rodham continued, however, to enjoy a tremendous reputation amongst the upper echelons of the Pakistani Army, and was equally beloved by many former servicemen. Through friends in the British High Commission he was kept supplied with whisky and spares for his motor car. The Brigadier died in 1973 and left his wordly goods to his bearer and friend, Mohammed.