| Andrew William Palethorpe Todd was the only son of Andrew and Ellen Todd. They were married about 1881 in Nottingham. Andrew Todd (senior) was a native of Castlederg, County Tyrone and practised at the Irish bar before becoming a county court judge and later recorder for Londonderry.
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| Andrew Todd was born about 1893 in Dublin City. He was the older of two children.
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| Family: Andrew Todd, Ellen Todd, Andrew William Palethorpe Todd (born about 1893, Dublin City), Eileen Margaret Todd (born about 1893, Dublin City).
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| The 1901 census lists Andrew W P as age 8, living with the family at house 21 in Hatch Street Lower, Fitzwilliam, Dublin. His father was a barrister in Actual Practice.
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| The 1911 census lists Andrew W Palethorpe as age 18, living with the family at house 17 in Simmonscourt, Donnybrook, Dublin. His father was not present.
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| While still a medical student Andrew played fullback in three consecutive Rugby Union Tests for Ireland – against Wales and France in 1913 and against France on New Year’s Day , 1914.
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| Andrew was educated at the Trinity College in Dublin, where he graduated M.B., B. Ch., B.A.O. in 1915.
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| Andrew served in the war of 1914-18 with the Royal Army Medical Corps.
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| He was awarded the Military Cross for services described in the London Gazette as follows:
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‘During an attack this officer, who was stationed at the advanced collecting post, behaved with great gallantry under the heavy artillery fire to which his post was subjected at frequent intervals during the day. He dressed and attended to large numbers of wounded men with unremitting devotion to duty, and also went forward under heavy fire with stretcher-bearers to the aid posts, and by his able leadership rendered valuable service in evacuating the wounded.’
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| It is believed Andrew’s wife was called Marvill/Marvilla Rose Agar-Daly, although this has yet to be confirmed.
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| On 11th June 1919 his son was born. Richard Andrew Palethorpe Todd was born in Dublin. Richard went on to become a famous actor who starred in the ‘Dambusters’ film.
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| Andrew Todd (senior) died on 16th June 1920 at the age of 66.
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| He remained in the Royal Army Medical Corps as Captain until 1922.
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| He took his family to India briefly but returned home.
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| In 1922 he went to pursue a career in medicine becoming a GP in Moneymore, County Londonderry.
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| In 1926 he moved to Holsworthy in Devonshire, where he stayed for three years.
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| In his memoirs, Andrew’s son recalled his father was a domineering man who drove his wife away and insisted his son call him ‘Sir’ at all times. Richard was raised with his mother’s family, the Hunters of Brecart Lodge (Toome), until the age of nine.
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| In 1928, Andrew’s wife walked out of her house in Toome the middle of the night. Her frozen body was found by the river the following day. It is believed she committed suicide.
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| In 1930, Andrew accepted took a post as a ship surgeon in the Merchant Service.
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| In 1934 he was appointed part-time medical officer of health for the Wimborne Urban District.
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| On the outbreak of World War Two he was recalled for service as captain in the R.A.M.C. For a period he served at sea, but on account of his health he was posted to a shore position in charge of a large military hospital in England.
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| Major Andrew William Palethorpe Todd, M.C. was serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps when he became ill and died aged of pneumonia on 15th March 1942 in England.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th March 1942: Major Drew Todd, R.A.M.C. - Formerly of Moneymore
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| The death has taken place at a military hospital in England of pneumonia of Major Drew Todd, M.C., Royal Army Medical Corps, only son of the late Judge Andrew Todd, Recorder of Derry.
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| Major Todd, who was 49, took his medical degree at Trinity College, Dublin, and for a time practised at Moneymore. He was afterwards in the Merchant Service, and during the last war served at sea, when he was awarded the M.C. At the end of hostilities he practised in Dorset.
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| For a period in the present war he served at sea, but on account of his health he was posted to a shore position in charge of a large military hospital in England. He was preceded several years ago by his wife, and is survived by an only son, Lieutenant Peter Todd, who holds his commission in a Scottish regiment; by his mother, who is at present residing at Dundrum with her married daughter, Mrs F Fitzpatrick, whose husband, a well-known Dublin barrister, formerly practised in County Donegal.
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| Major Andrew William Palethorpe Todd, M.C., was buried at the Brookwood Military Cemetery near London.
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| Andrew’s son, Richard Todd, joined the Parachute Regiment at the onset of World War Two. He was one of the first to parachute into France in 1944 and helped lead an assault on the strategically vital Pegasus Bridge near Caen.
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| The CWGC record Major Andrew William Palethorpe Todd, M.C. as the son of Andrew Todd, Recorder of Londonderry, and if Ellen Todd, of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. M.B.
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