Todd, George
Ex-Rifleman
No. 16/98, Royal Irish Rifles, formerly Lancashire Fusiliers (No. 6530)
Died of disease on Saturday 28 September 1918 (aged 48)
Buried:
Newtownards (Movilla) Cemetery, Co Down (Grave 11. 112)
BIOGRAPHY
In the records for Movilla New Cemetery, Newtownards there is an entry relating to the death of George Todd. There he is described as a discharged soldier from Newtownards who died from consumption on 28 September 1918.
On his death certificate he is described as a pensioner from the Lancashire Fusiliers and a Rifleman in the Royal Irish Rifles who was 48 when he died from pulmonary tuberculosis. His wife Adela was with him when he died at his home in Wallace’s Street, Newtownards.
George Todd’s stated age on different documents provides a range for his most likely year of birth, from 1869 to 1872:
Document Date Stated age. Estimated year of birth.
Death certificate 28 September 1918 48 1870/1871
Army Discharge 13 September 1917 48 1869/1870
Enlistment 12 November 1914 43 1871/1872
Army Discharge 7 May 1908 36½ 1871/1872
Enlistment 12 February 1890 18¼ 1871/1872
Attestation 29 January 1887 18 1869/1870
Army records show that George Todd was born at Birr, Co. Offaly (then King’s County).
Two George Todds were born at Birr between 1869 and 1872:
- George Todd born on 6 November 1870, son of James Todd (a plumber) and Susan Todd (nee Eades).
- George Todd born on 12 July 1872, son of David Todd (a pensioner) and Mary Todd (nee Stones).
George Todd born on 6 November 1870, son of James Todd (a plumber) and Susan Todd (nee Eades):
Church baptism records show:
His sister Susan was born in Galway on 14 April 1861
His brother William was born in Galway on 27 November 1863.
His brother Samuel was born in Galway on 15 September 1865.
His brother James was born in Galway on 25 April 1867 (married Maria Boulfer on 25 January 1899 at Athlone).
According to Army records he had two other brothers, Robert and John.
In 1901 Susan Todd (Church of Ireland, aged 62, and married) was living in High Street, Birr. Illiterate, she worked as a washerwoman and had two lodgers staying with her. Her husband, James Todd, died from ‘decay of nature’ on 4 May 1902 (aged 74) in Birr Workhouse. In 1911 the widowed Susan Todd (Church of Ireland, aged 76) was living in High Street, Birr with her two sons, James (aged 42) and George (aged 40). George, a general labourer, stated that he had been married for seven years, and had no children.
Army records show that Rifleman George Todd (No. 16/98) and Adele (Adela) Rosalia Allen, a spinster, were married on 7 June 1902 in St Paul’s Anglican Church, Bridgetown, Barbados, and they had no children. In 1911 Adela Todd (aged 40) was still living in Bridgetown, Barbados where she was staying with her brother whilst working as a teacher. Her name appears in the passenger manifest for the SS Sao Paulo which sailed from Barbados to New York on 3 June 1911. Adela Todd was headed for Philadelphia.
Susan Todd died of bronchial pneumonia on 9 July 1912 at High Street, Birr, and her son James was with her when she died. Her son, James Todd, a bachelor, died on 30 October 1949 (aged 75). James was born on 25 April 1867 at Dominick Street, Galway. Private James Todd (No. 3629) served with the Leinster Regiment during the Great War.
George Todd born on 12 July 1872, son of David Todd (a pensioner) and Mary Todd (nee Stones):
David Todd (aged 40) and Mary Woods (aged 17) were married on 18 November 1850 in Birr Church of Ireland Parish Church. David Todd died from cancer in Parsonstown Workhouse on 19 March 1877 (aged 62). In 1901 the widowed Mary Todd (Roman Catholic, aged 68) was living alone at Swag Street, Birr, and she died from ‘decay of nature’ in Birr Workhouse on 18 December 1902 (aged 68).
Interestingly, records from the 1880s for Tullamore Jail in King’s County show that a person named George Todd from Birr was sentenced on three separate occasions:
- On 15 December 1885 (Protestant aged 12)
Offence ‘Concealed with intent’; Sentence ‘Remand’.
- On 28 April 1887 (Irish Church aged 16 years 4 months)
Offence ‘Obstructing the thoroughfare’; Sentence ‘Jailed for 3 days’.
- On 7 July 1888 (Protestant aged 17)
Offence ‘Interrupt free passage on public thoroughfare’; Sentence ‘Jailed for 3 days’.
His brother James was frequently imprisoned for poaching and other illegal hunting activities.
From all the above data, the best fit for Rifleman George Todd (No. 16/98) is that he was born on 6 November 1870, a son of James Todd (a plumber) and Susan Todd (nee Eades).
Rifleman George Todd (No. 16/98) was discharged from the Army on 13 September 1917 in Dublin ‘being no longer physically fit for war service’. His intended place of residence was 28 Wallace’s Street, Newtownards, Co Down. His stated age was 48, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall with a sallow complexion, blue eyes, grey hair, and his trade was ‘Porter’. It was noted that he had ‘served his country well and suffered in health in consequence. He is desirous of resuming his civil employment as a hall porter and no doubt his former employers will see their way to re-engage him in appreciation of his war service’. A previous address for him in Newtownards was 57 Court Street. He was awarded silver war number no. 254207.
Army records provide other data for Rifleman George Todd (No. 16/98):
He had foreign service with the Lancashire Fusiliers in India (9 months), South Africa (5 years 10 months), Mauritius (1 year 1 month), Malta (3 years 3 months), and Barbados (2 years).
In 1915 he was with the British Expeditionary Force in France for 350 days. His medical records show that he developed phthisis (tuberculosis) which started in July 1916 in France as the result of ‘exposure and hardships while on active service’. Sanitorium treatment was deemed to be required, and his impairment was judged to be ‘permanent’, ‘prevents ¾’. The report from a Special Medical Board held on 23 August 1918 in Belfast recommended pension based on 100% lessened capacity.
George Todd died on 28 September 1918.
Earlier Army records show that Private George Todd (No. 592) 3rd Battalion Leinster Regiment joined at Birr on 29 January 1887. An unmarried labourer, it was noted in his attestation papers that he had a fresh complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. His stated age was 18 and it may be noted that it was not unusual for teenage recruits to exaggerate their stated age, to imply greater maturity. His religious denomination was Church of England.
Army records also show that George Todd (No. 6530) enlisted for 7 years Army Service and 5 years Reserve Service on 12 February 1890. He joined at Birr and was posted to the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was discharged at his own request after 18 years’ service on 7 May 1908.
On 12 November 1914 George Todd enlisted again and joined the Royal Irish Rifles. In his attestation papers his previous service with the 18th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers was noted. His address at that time was Ballylesson and he worked as a hall porter.
Efforts have begun to ascertain whether this casualty meets the criteria for official commemoration.