This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Todd, Alexander Findlater played for England andGreat Britain Internationals: 2 : 1900 I+ S= Great Britain Internationals: 4 : 1896 SA+ SA+ SA+ SA- Alexander Todd was born on 20 September 1873, in Forest Hill, London, son of Bruce B Todd. Played as a Forward for: Mill Hill School, Cambridge University (Blue 1893-1895), Blackheath, Barbarians, Kent Remarks: Captained Kent. Played for Barbarians: v Bedford (3-7) v Bath (14-0) v Cardiff (9-6) v Newport (3-19) in 1894; v Percy Park (3-5) in 1895; v West of England XV (0-0) v Newport (0-16) in 1896; v Liverpool (35-0) v Hartlepool Rovers (11-0) in 1897. Berkshire County Cricket Club 1900, 1910-11. Great Britain tour of SA 1896. Served in the South African War, where he was wounded at Diamond Hill. War service: Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment from 21 September 1914 (late Captain in the 4th Battalion (Militia). He served in France from October 1914; promoted Captain in April 1915, 3rd Battalion, attached to the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, 15th Brigade, 5th Division; Mentioned in Despatches. He died of wounds on 21 April 1915, at Hill 60 near Ypres, and is buried in Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium [Grave II. M. 7.].
Alexander Findlater Todd Service: Army Date of birth: 20 September 1873 Year of entry to Mill Hill: 1885 House at Mill Hill: Burton Bank Record - Firthorpe, Ascot. Born 20th September, 1873. 173, M.H. 5, 1885 to 7, 1892, Burton Bank. Captain of XI. and XV. At School. Caius College, Cambridge. Blue for Rugby football at Cambridge, 1893-4. Played for Blackheath, Kent (Captain) and England, 1899-1900. Boer War: Robert's Horse and Carrington's Horse (Squadron Commander). Commissioned, 1914, Norfolk Regt. (special Reserve Battalion). Captain Served in France. Mentioned in Dispatches. Died from wounds received in action, 21st April, 1915, on Ypres Salient at Hill 60. Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Beveridge Todd. http://www.millhillatwar.org.uk/Search_Result_view.aspx?Id=172 Captain Alexander Findlater Todd of 1st Bn. Norfolk Regiment who was related to a London firm of wine merchants, had been capped for England at rugby in 1896 and served in the South African War. He was shot through the neck whilst in the trenches near Hill 60 on 18 April 1915 (the day after returning from leave), and died of his wounds on 21 April 1915. http://www.fylde.demon.co.uk/gardiner1.htm http://www.wo1.be/eng/database/personen/persDetail.asp?persoonID=75
Blues register: TODD, Alexander Findlater Educated at Mill Hill School and Caius College, Cambridge. Played in Cambridge Fifteen 1893, 1894, 1895. International Football, England v. Scotland 1900, v. Ireland 1900: and captained Kent Fifteen: and plays cricket for Berkshire County Elevens. Address: Firthorpe, Ascot, Berkshire. Picture is the Cambridge XV 1893, Todd is back row far left. Andy
