B66003 Corporal John Tod was born on 23 August 1916 in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Oswald Alexander Tod and Ethel Dennison. His father died while on active service with the Royal Canadian Army  Service Corps at Camp Borden in October 1942. A brother also served in active service with the 48th Highlanders. Tod also had a sister Betty. At age 16 he left after completing grade 8 at Hillcrest Public School.

Tod was a member of St Jude’s Anglican Church and married Florence MacDonald on 26 March 1941 while on leave from training in Sussex, New Brunswick.

Tod was employed by A & P Tea Company as a butcher before enlisting. He joined The Queen’s Own Rifles militia battalion on 16 July 1940 however by September he had transferred to the Active Service army.

After serving with “W” Force in Newfoundland and training in Sussex, New Brunswick, he arrived in Scotland with the Regiment in July 1941.

While in the UK he trained with the Regiment as well as undertaking army cooking and butchering courses. Appointed Lance Corporal on 25 September 1943,  Acting Corporal in January 1944, and confirmed as a Corporal in April 1944.

Corporal Tod landed on Juno Beach with D Company on D-Day, 6 June 1944. He was killed in action on 11 June 1944, aged 26 during the battle for the village of Le Mesnil Patry.

He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference IV. G. 12.