Bertie Francis Todd
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Bertie Francis Todd was born in 1891, he was baptised on 29th November 1891 at St Mary's Church, Radcliffe he was the son of William a railway signalman and Harriet Todd nee Crabtree of the Harlequin, Radcliffe on Trent. William was born in 1850 at Bitchfield, Lincolnshire, Harriett Crabtree was born in 1855 at Heckingham, Lincolnshire, they were married in 1878 at Nottingham and went on to have 11 children. In 1911 his family are living at the Harlequin, Radcliffe on Trent, William is 61 yrs a railway signalman, he is living with his wife Harriett 56 yrs and 7 of their children. In 1911 Bertie has left the family home and has joined the army, he is living at the Crownhill Barracks, Devon and is serving with the second battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment.
Joined army reserves, 21.9.1909 and posted to 4th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters. Joined Regular forces January 1910, Derby (1st Battalion SFs) age, 18 years, 4 months. Height 5’ 4". Occupation, farm labourer. Religion C of E. Regiment 1st Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters. Regimental No.11259 examined and found fit for service in India in 1911 29.9.1911 to 2.9.1914 India. 3.9.1914 to 3.11.1914 Home. 1st Battalion was in Bombay, India August 1914, returning to England, landing Plymouth 2 October 1914 and moved to Hursley Park coming under orders of 24th Brigade, 8th Division. Landed at Le Havre 5 November 1914. “Brigade attached for purposes of giving instruction to 23rd Division, 18 October 1915 to 15 January 1916”. 4.11. 14 Posted 27.1.15 Appointed corporal 18.3. 15 Appointed L.Sgt 09.05.15. Killed in action Total Military Service: 5 years 115 days. His name is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, panel 1
On 28th May 1915 extracts from a letter sent by L/Sgt. Bertie Francis Todd, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, to his brother were published. It proved to be his last letter home – he had been killed in action at Aubers Ridge on 9th May 1915; his body not being found he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. “DEATH INSTEAD OF V.C. “RADCLIFFE SERGEANT'S LAST LETTER HOME. “Below are appended extracts from the last letter written to his brother by Sergeant B. Todd, Sherwood Foresters, of Radcliffe-on-Trent, who is reported killed in action: “What with the weather and the old coal boxes of the Germans, we are having a warm time. It makes us pull our coats off in the trenches. They keep shouting across to us and asking us when we are going to charge them again. I don't know if any of them were at Neuve Chapelle, but they will know when we get over the parapet this time. Well Walter, we have got some good far stock from Germany in front of us now. I was out the other night in front, and when I got up to their wire they looked like telegraph poles to have had a shot, but you know when we go out on listening picket, we are not allowed to fire. I am [fortunate] I have seen a few of them before they have me. I don't care if I get one now, I shall always do my share in a charge, and [expect] to get a V.C. or a bullet in this next lot if I see half a chance. You know we are stone mad in a charge, but it's a happy time. We came out of the trenches last night for three days. We did not get out till 12 o'clock. The dirty old Germans shelled the old barn we were sleeping in at 4 a.m. that morning. It's a dirty trick to play on us. When we are in the trenches they are not satisfied at trying to shoot us; they are trying to poison us but we have have found a remedy to stop it, so we won't trouble much.” Above article was published 'Nottingham Evening Post', 28th May 1915 and is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
