Todd, John 12655 (1895 - 1918)

Sergeant, "C" Coy. 11th Bn. Royal Scots

Buried at Meteren Military Cemetery

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

Sergeant John Todd was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. John Todd, 9 Huntly Terrace, North Kelvinside. He was a fine type of pupil, courteous, attentive, diligent, emphatically a "trier." A sense of humour is usually a late development of schoolboys, but with John Todd it showed itself early, and remained prominent to the last.

He served an apprenticeship in the Glasgow Rubber Company, Maryhill, and was about to assist his father in the management when war began. Like most of our boys, he had no hesitation about deciding what his duty was at such a time, and early in August, 1914, he joined The Royal Scots as a private.

He left for France in the spring of 1915, and for over three years he took part in every action fought by his Division. He was severely wounded in March, 1918, but after a short convalescence he volunteered again for France, although he was pressed to accept a commission.

On the 26th July, while taking part in the first stages of the victorious advance, he was struck by a machine gun bullet, and killed outright. In the evidence of all his officers and comrades he showed exceptional powers of leadership, and has left a record of which his School may well be proud. He gained the Military Medal for gallantry and resource in action, and was awarded a bar to it for similar conduct during a later engagement.

His company commander, writing home, says, "I personally had the greatest regard and affection for him, and he was my best sergeant. I should like you to realise fully the extent of his reputation for bravery and coolness. At the retirement on the Somme he three times led his company to the charge, and if he received no further decoration for it (he certainly earned the V.C. that day), it was because no officer survived to recommend him."

Such appreciation and praise may well temper sorrow to his relatives and friends, while intensifying the sense of the country's loss in the death of so gallant a soldier.