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John Tod, 20th (Fife & Forfar) Coy. I.Y. -died in British Central Africa, 4.1902 4 years 2 months ago #72612
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...."Of the ten men from K Company 6th V.B.R.H. who volunteered to go to the front, two received notice last week that they had been accepted, and yesterday Cyclist Private John Harcus, Victoria Gardens, and Private James Stewart, Octavia Street, received notice that they had also been accepted for service with the 2d Battalion of their regiment, the Black Watch, in South Africa, The call for recruits in the Imperial Yeomanry is also being taken up in this district. Mr John Tod, captain of the Kirkcaldy Rugby Club, a sergeant in the local company of Artillery Volunteers; Mr George Gibb, farmer, Pitteuchar, a late member of Kirkcaldy Rugby Club; and Mr Charles Hunter, Auchterderran, son of the Deputy Chief-Constable of Fifeshire, a member of the Fife Light Horse, have passed the necessary examinations and signed on as members of the Yeomanry. Several other local men have also applied for admission to the Yeomanry and are in course of passing their examinations."
Edinburgh Evening News, Saturday 6th January 1900
HONOUR TO KIRKCALDY VOLUNTEERS.
....."Last night the four Kirkcaldy men who have volunteered and been accepted for the front to serve in the Imperial Yeomanry - John Tod, Alfred D. Graham, James Bell, and Andrew T. Wilson - and John Harcus and John Inglis of the K Company 6th V.B.R.H. were presented with the freedom of the burgh, each being gifted with a burgess ticket and two sovereigns from the town. There was a large turnout to witness the interesting ceremony. Provost Hutchison handed over the tickets, and in doing so remarked that this was the highest honour the town could bestow on her citizens. Trooper Tod replied." Dundee Courier, Tuesday 30th January 1900
SAD DEATH OF KIRKCALDY YOUNG MAN IN AFRICA.
A FORMER MEMBER OF THE YEOMANRY.
...."The sad intelligence was yesterday afternoon received by cablegram at Douglasfield, Kirkcaldy, of the death, from fever, of Mr John Tod, son of the late Mr Tod, merchant, Kirkcaldy, the melancholy event having occurred at Chindi, B.C.A. ....Mr Tod, whose portrait we reproduce, was by birth and residence a Langtonian, his late father having for many years been a merchant in town. The deceased young man served his apprenticeship and afterwards continued in the employment of Messrs Gibson & Spears, writers, Kirkcaldy. He was well know in the town, being a Rugby footballer of some note, and acting for a time as captain of the local XV, where his height and weight, together with his athletic tendencies, stood him in good stead. He also competed occasionally on the track, and was an enthusiastic member of the local artillery, holding the rank of sergeant in No. 5 Company. He likewise occupied for a time the post of secretary to the Kirkcaldy Trades Band. ....When the call came for the raising of the Imperial Yeomanry, "Jack" was early in the lists at Cupar, and was afterwards a prominent member of the first contingent of the Fife and Forfar who went out on active service. During the "preliminaries" in the county town the deceased made many friends, and was also installed a Freemason. In March, 1900, he left with his company, and after serving with them in various part where their services were requisitioned he was invalided home about the beginning of the year 1901. After recuperating in his native town - where he had received the freedom on the occasion of his departure with the Yeomanry - he accepted a situation with the African Lakes Company, and left this country about a year ago for British Central Africa, which has since been the scene of his labours. ....A young man in the enjoyment of good health, of splendid physique, standing quite six feet in height, and well built, deceased looked anything but one who would succumb to the prevalent fevers of the land of his adoption. Of a cheery disposition, he was greatly esteemed by a wide circle of acquaintances in the "Lang Toon," and the news of his untimely end has caused a feeling of sorrow amongst all who formerly enjoyed his friendship, while general regret is expressed for his widowed mother and the members of the family. ....Our sketch of Mr Tod in the uniform of the Imperial Yeomanry is reproduced from a photo by Mr R. G. Rettie, Townsend Place, Kirkcaldy." Dundee Courier, Friday 2nd May 1900
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British Central Africa was the area that is now Malawi. The records of the African Lakes Company (later the African Lakes Corporation) are held at "Glasgow University Archive Services, where they are still available for research," so it may be possible to get an exact date of death for John Tod. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Lakes_Corporation |
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- John Tod, 20th (Fife & Forfar) Coy. I.Y. -died in British Central Africa, 4.1902