A GALLANT NEW ZEALANDER

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 49

A GALLANT NEW ZEALANDER

LATE COLONEL TODD, C.M.G., D.S.O. A New Zealand-born soldier, who attained considerable renown as an Australian officer in the great war, died on his way back to Australia, on January 23 last, of heart failure. The officer referred to was Colonel Thomas John Todd, C.M.G., D. 5.0., who was a son of the late Mr James Todd, of New Zealand, and latterly of Perth. The late Colonel ±odd was borrj in Christchurch in 1873, and was educated in Christchurch and Auckland. He was a well-known athlete, and a prominent footballer in his younger days. He fought through the South African war with the New Zealand troops, commencing as a lieutenant, and subsequently being promoted captain and adjutant to the New Zealand Forces, under Major Craddock. He was mentioned in despatches by Generals French, Hutton, Mahon, and Plumer, was awarded the D. 5.0., and received the Queen's Medal withvfive bars, and the King's Medal. After the war he returned to New Zeaalnd, and in 1904 he went to join his brothers, Messrs Alexander and James Todd, in their contracting business in Perth, and later became a partner in the firms of Todd Bros., of Perth, and of the Perth Brick Company, Midland Junction. When the -world-war broke out Colonel Todd was one of the first to enlist, and he took a prominent part in organising the 10th Light Horse, leaving with the rank of captain in February, 1915, and quickly being promoted major. When the mounted men were sent to Gallipoli Major Todd was in command of his regiment on tho famous Walker's Ridge, and was promoted to the rank of colonel. He was later invalided to England with dysentery, rejoining his regiment about a month before the evacuation. After the infantry had gone to France Colonel Todd saw a considerable amount of service on the Suez Canal.., and while there he took charge of .a composite command and went 60 miles inland to Wadi Muksheib, to destroy Turkish water supplies. Later 'he was engaged against the Turks at Romani, was present at the battles of Rafa, Magdhaba, and Gaza, and was wounded in the eye at the second battle of Gaza. On rejoining his regiment he took part in the Palestine operations, and for his services at Beersheba and Jerusalem was awarded a bar to his D.S.O. During the course of the Palestine campaign. Colonel Todd suffered a relapse from his previous wound, and spent a period in hospital, but returned by aeroplane to duty at Damascus, and there took over an internment camp in which were 10,000 Turkish prisoners. For his fine services Colonel Todd was awarded the decoration of C.M.G. As previously stated, Colonel Todd died of heart failure when on his way back to Perth, and so great was the esteem in which he was held that the 10th Light Horse has decided to erect a memorial to his memory. In Perth Colonel Todd represented Midland Junction on the Municipal Council, was a member of various olu'bs, a prominent Freemason, a ■doe-president of the South African Soldiers' Association, and a well-known bowler. He waa a single man. His brother Alexander died recently of heart failure.