John Todd was unusual as he apparently worked on both the Operational and Special Duties side of Auxiliary Units. He is described as "a great character and obviously a good brain". He was very good at bridge and played regularly at the Portland Club. However he spoke very little about his wartime service.
George Vater of Special Duties "Harcourt" at Llantilio Crossenny Church was adamant John Todd was known to him as "Tommy Atkins" and was the Intelligence Officer for the Special Duties Branch. He recalled he lived at Llanfihangel Crucorny (Telephone Crucorny 318). Although Todd's career took him away from Auxiliary Units, Vater was adamant he met him in and around Abergavenny during the war. He recalled T.A, as he was known, would turn up for meetings wearing an unusual hat full of fishing flies. Near the end of the war Vater asked a Police Sergeant who or what T.A was, only to be told he was an eccentric who did a lot of fishing.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herefordshire | Intelligence Officer | 22 Jul 1940 | Unknown |
| Worcestershire | Intelligence Officer | 22 Jul 1940 | 14 Jul 1941 |
| Sir Fynwy | Intelligence Officer | 22 Jul 1940 | 01 Jul 1941 |
| Monmouthshire | Intelligence Officer | 22 Jul 1940 | 01 Jul 1941 |
| East Africa Mission | SOE Agent | 1942 | 1943 |
| Harcourt, Ardal 18 | Intelligence Officer | Unknown | Unknown |
| Harcourt, Area 18 | Intelligence Officer | Unknown | Unknown |
Finance
Honourable Artillery Company 1917.
Commissioned to General List without pay and allowances (which indicates service with Military Intelligence – eg MI6) possibly with the Section D Home Defence Scheme.
15 July 1940 transferred to Intelligence Corps and paid from Army Funds (ie no longer in MI6).
22 July 1940 Intelligence Officer Auxiliary Units, Special Duties.
August 1941 - late 1942 Local Lieutenant Colonel East African Mission SOE, for invasion of Madagascar.
Retired May 1945 as Honorary Colonel.
A WW1 veteran he served as Signaller 626363 in Honorary Artillery Company from 16 Nov 1917 to 14 Feb 1919.
Pre-war he worked as a stockbroker. In 1939 he and his wife Phyllis (nee Simpkins) are living at Shibber Grove, Higher Denham, Buckinghamshire.
After the war he returned to stock broking, becoming senior partner with Rowe Swan.
In his mid-fifties he had a heart attack and retired.
Between 1961-1965 he was a Commissioner of Public Works.
Todd was awarded a CBE (Civil Division) in 1963 Queens Birthday Honours list.