Military History

Todd was one of the first to enlist after the start of WW1, he spent time forming and reorganizing the 10th Light Horse Regt. posted to ‘A’ Squadron 10th Light Horse as Captain 2.10.1914
Embarked Fremantle per HT ‘Mashobra’ A47 for Egypt 8.2.1915
Roll Rank Captain.
Roll Unit 3rd Light Horse Brigade, 10th Light Horse Regiment, ‘A’ Company.
Todd disembarked in Egypt with the 10th Light Horse and camped at Mena. A month after the first landing at Gallipoli the men of the 10th Light Horse volunteered to leave their horses in Egypt and proceed to the peninsula as infantry. Todd entrained to Alexandria and joined the MEF 16.5.1915. He embarked for Gallipoli. Todd was in charge of Units at Walker’s Ridge (Western Mail 31.19.1919) Todd became sick with dysentery at Anzac 9.8.1915 and was evacuated by HS ‘Georgian’ for Mudros and HT ‘Aquitavinia’ to England. He was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth 24.8.1915. Todd was declared unfit for general service for 6 weeks but embarked per HS ’Karoola’ for Egypt 19.10.1915. On disembarkation, he proceeded back to Gallipoli per HT ‘Alnwick Castle’ via Alexandria 8.11.1915. Todd took over command of 10th Light Horse from Temp. Lieut. Colonel Nicholas 4.12.1915. Todd was granted the temporary rank of Lieut. Colonel 4.12.1915. He was evacuated with 200 able bodied troops to Alexandria per HT ‘Maroo’ 26.12.1915. (Western Mail 31.1.1919) When the Infantry moved to the Western Front, the 10th Light Horse remained in Egypt to take over the defence of Suez. Todd was promoted to Lieut. Col. at the Rail Head Suez Canal 16.3.1916. He took command of a composite regiment and went 50 miles inland to destroy enemy waterholes. He also commanded troops in the Battles of Rafa, Magdhaba and Gaza. For these actions, he was mentioned in the Despatches of Sir A. J. Murray 13.10.1916. In the second Battle of Gaza, Todd was dangerously wounded in action with a GSW to his right eye 19.4.1917. He was admitted to the 54th Casualty Clearing Station 19.4.1917 then transferred to the No.2 Australian Stationary Hospital at El Arish 20.4.1917. Todd was transferred to the 14th Australian General Hospital at Abbassia and then removed from ‘Seriously Ill’ list 28.4.1917. He was discharged from Hospital 3.7.191. He returned to duty and resumed command of the 10th Light Horse 9.7.1917. Todd was mentioned in Despatches of Sir A J Murray 28.6.1917 and awarded Bar to Distinguished Service Order ( DSO) 1.1.1918 for service in the Palestinian Campaign and his action at Beer Sheba. He took Command of the 10th Light Horse on a number of occasions in 1918. Todd was admitted to the 14th Australian General Hospital with Emphysema (sic) Antrum 18.5.1918- 20.9.1918. He resumed duty with 10th Light Horse Regt 26.9.1918. In early 1919, he embarked from Tripoli per HT ‘Tagus’ for Port Said 8.1.1919. It was here he died of heart failure in Egypt whilst on leave 23.1.1919. Todd was buried by Rev. J. Hunter MacGoun 26.1.1919 at Cairo Military Cemetery, Grave No.Q270.
Final Rank Lieut. Col.10th Regt. 3rd Australian Light Horse Bde.
Medical Condition Deceased, heart failure.
Awards and Medals Mentioned in Dispatches, DSO for South Africa Campaign and Awarded Bar to same (1.1.1918), Mentioned in Gen. Sir A. Murray’s Despatches, Companion of most distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG), Awarded bar for DSO 16.2.1918. 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Citation Recommendation for CMG
‘For gallantry and devotion to duty. His untiring zeal on behalf of his regiment and brigade has at all times been most marked and on both the 26th March and 19th April, during the Gaza operation, he lead his regiment with great skill and coolness until severely wounded in the later operations. His great keenness and cheerfulness as well as his fine example, as always had a marked effect on the men under his command’. Recommended for a CMG.

Notes Todd was deeply respected by the 10th Light Horsemen under him, acknowledged for his bravery (WAN 31.1.1919). A Memorial Plaque was placed in St Matthew’s Church Guildford in 1938 by men of the 10th Light Horse in his memory and honour. Todd had previously held the position of Midland Junction Councillor before enlisting.
Photo  P10509.023.001. SS 'Mashobra'. Photographer unknown, photograph source Naval Collection of the Australian War Memorial
          Horses and Guns going ashore at Gallipoli 1915. Photograph produced by Darge Studios,photograph source AWM J03269
          3rd Australian General Hospital at Wandsworth.UK c 1916. Postcard by Card House
          Australian Light Horse at the Battle of Gaza March 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM J06558
          Grave of Col. J. T. Todd, Cairo January 1919. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced AWM B00849
            Pall bearers carrying the coffin of the late  Lieut. Col. Thomas John Todd  CMG, DSO of the 10th Light Horse. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM B00846

Information Source
AWM P10509.023.001. SS 'Mashobra'. Photographer unknown, photograph source Naval Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  J03269. Horses and Guns going ashore at Gallipoli 1915. Photograph produced by Darge Studios, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  J06558. Australian Light Horse at the Battle of Gaza March 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collectio of the Australian War Memorial
AWM B00849. Grave of Col. J.T. Todd. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial  https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/B00849/ 
AWM B00812. Col. John Thomas Todd. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australia War Museum https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/B00812/
AWM B00846. Pall bearers carrying the coffin of the late  Lieut. Col. Thomas John Todd  CMG, DSO of the 10th Light Horse. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced rom the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Card House. 3rd Australian General Hospital at Wandsworth.UK c 1916.
NAA: B2455, Todd Thomas John
St Matthew’s Commemorative Plaque
West Australian Newspapers
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories

Mount Street, Midland Junction, WA (now Bellevue)

Associated Images