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Todd-J-C-RMS-1

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

This group of officers of the 37th Battalion was taken before the Battalion left for France in

November 1916.  2nd Lt James Charles Todd from Newmarket, Victoria is standing in the

middle row, far left. Australian War Memorial Collection.  Other locals in this group are

Parker H C Sgt 715, of Essendon, DOW, and Capt James Arthur Lambden from Ascot Vale. 

James Todd and Captain Lambden were awarded Military Crosses at the same time for their

work in France in 1917.  http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00997.001

 

Todd J C     RMS    1    James Charles              37 Inf Bn    21    Clerk    Single    Pres       

Address:    Newmarket, Norwood St, 20  

Next of Kin:    Todd, Helen Caden, sister, 20 Norwood St, Newmarket   

Enlisted:    22 Mar 1916       

Embarked:     A34 Persic 3 Jun 1916   

Prior service:  CMF  58th Inf Regt

Awards:  Military Cross,    Mention in Despatches 

 

Relatives on Active Service:

Mountain-W-J-Driver-25919  future brother-in-law, KIA

 

 

Word has been received from abroad that Warrant-Officer J. C. Todd, who, until enlisting, held a commission in the 58th Infantry (Essendon Rifles), has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

 

ROLL OF HONOR. (1916, September 14). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 6 Edition: Morning. Retrieved February 8, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74594135

 

Flemington-Kensington Church News, May 1917

 

Lieut J C Todd, 37th Batt, has been awarded the Military Cross.  Splendid!  Robert Hunter is now a Lieut. also in the 37th Batt, having just secured his commission.  Congratulations to you both, and may God keep you.

 

Lieutenant James Charles Todd was recommended for a Military Cross by Brigadier-General W Ramsay McNicholl on 4 March 1917.

 

"At ARMENTIERES on the night 26th/27th February 1917, on the occasion of a raid by a composite Battalion of his Brigade on the enemy trenches, Lieut TODD was the officer in charge of the scouts.  For some considerable time prior to the raid, he, with his scouts, patrolled NO MAN'S LAND, and obtained information which was of the utmost value to the operation.  On the night of the raid, he covered, with his scouts, the assembly of the four raiding companies in NO MAN'S LAND; he controlled and managed the placing, in NO MAN'S LAND, of the tapes, which proved of such vale to all the raiding companies, and further, directed the laying of the Bangalore torpedoes, which ensured proper gaps being made in the enemy's front wire.  He afterwards assisted in bringing back our wounded.  His courage and devotion to duty are worthy of the highest commendation.  (Strength of party, 21 Off., 804 O.R.)
W Ramsay McNicoll, B G  10th A I B

 


GALLANTRY RECOGNISED
For distinguished service in France, Lieutenant J. C. Todd has been
awarded the Military Cross. Lieut. Todd, who is the second son
of the late, Mr and Mrs A. Todd, of Newmarket, held a commission in the 58th
Essendon Rifles and for some time was Assistant-Adjutant at Seymour camp.
He left Australia as Warrant-Officer in the 37th (Vic.) Battalion in June, 1916,
and received his commission in England.

"GALLANTRY RECOGNISED" The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) 21 April 1917: 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242691171.

 

Flemington-Kensington Church News, July 1917

 

Lieut T Dunn, 38th Battalion.  Our friend left these shores in November 1915 with the 29th Battalion as Sergt.  After about six months training and service in Egypt he was sent to France in June 1916.  He has seen a deal of service on the West front since, and was wounded at Armentieres on the 26th February.  We congratulate him on his recovery, and on receiving the second star on his shoulder.  In a letter received a few days ago he says "The Brigade which I am now in has a good number of Flemington and Kensington boys in it.  Among them is Jim Todd, who was awarded a MC for his splendid scouting works in connection with a raid in which I also took part.".  He then mentioned several of our old Bible Class members. 

 

Officers of the 37th Battalion at Neuve Eglise, 14 January 1918.  Lt Todd is seated fifth

from the right with ungloved hands.

 

Flemington-Kensington Church News, April 1918

 

Lieut. J. C. Todd, 37th Batt., sailed for England on 3rd June, 1916, as a Warrant Officer. On arriving the unit went into training at the Lark Hill camp, where so many of our lads have looked with wonder on the fascinating remains of the glories of Stonehenge. When in England he was promoted to 2nd Lieut. He crossed over to France in November 1916, and was soon in the firing line.

 

Lieut. Todd was awarded the Military Cross for the following reasons, which speak for themselves - "At Armentieres on the night 26th/27th Feb. 1917, on the occasion of a raid by a composite Battalion of his brigade on the enemy‘s trenches, Lieut. Todd was the officer in charge of the scouts. For some considerable time prior to the raid he, with his scouts, patrolled 'No-Man's-Land' and obtained  information which was of the utmost value to the operations. On the night of the raid, he covered, with his scouts, the assembly of the four raiding companies in 'No-Man-'s-Land'; he controlled and managed the placing in 'No-Man-s-Land' of the tapes, which proved of so much value to all the raiding companies, and further, directed the laying of the Bongalore torpedoes, which ensured proper gaps being made in the enemy’s front wire. He afterwards assisted in bringing back our wounded. His courage and devotion to duty are worthy of the highest commendation."

 

At the same time our soldier obtained the two stars. On 16th February last he was received in the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound in the forehead. We are glad to say that, so far as is known, the wound is not serious.

 

Sunken Road in front of Treux Wood, from which the Germans were forced by the 10th Infantry

Brigade in their capture of Marett and Treux Woods, on 28 March 1918.  Lt Todd's head is above

the skyline on the right.

 

A smiling group of members of the 37th Battalion resting in the Sunken Road in front of Marett

Wood in France on 7 April 1918.  Lt J C Todd is fourth from the left.

 

 

Mentioned in this publication

An article relating to Dewar J D 2nd Lt in the Flemington-Kensington Church News, December 1917

 

War Service Commemorated

Flemington-Presbyterian-Church

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours

 

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