Lt Colonel Frederick William Todd

Lt Colonel Frederick William Todd served with the Madras Army in India.

Occupation: Officer in the East India Company Army.
Frederick joined the service in 1820 (Army List 1857 p148) and served in the 14th Native Infantry. Lieutenant Todd was made brevet captain on 13 February 1836 (Asiatic Journal vol 22 September 1836 p39), and captain on 21 September 1838 (The East India Register for 1844 p43). He was promoted to brevet major on 9 November 1846 (London Gazette 13 November 1846). Frederick retired with the rank of captain and brevet major on 28 September 1848 (Army List 1849 p162), but evidently re-entered the service, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 28 November 1854 (Army List 1855 p82), on which date he also re-retired (Army List 1861 p284)

This letter to Allen's Indian Mail describes Frederick's skill in commanding troops on the move in cholera-ridden areas:
Allen's Indian Mail 1846 p448
TO THE EDITOR OF ALLEN'S INDIAN MAIL.

SIR,-While the cholera has been prevalent in India, and many of our regiments have suffered in their marches most severely from that dreadful disease, there is some satisfaction when we find that bodies of our Indian troops have been conducted through long marches and districts where the cholera prevailed without a single casualty. An instance of this fortunate kind has occurred in a march of the left wing of the 14th Madras N.I., and I beg to call your attention to the occurrence, with the hope that you may be induced to notice it in the next number of the Indian Mail, as too much care cannot be taken of the health of our troops, particularly in regard to the cholera; I think the publication of such instances of successful marches are calculated, by rousing attention, to become beneficial, and shall feel much obliged by your giving a place in the Indian Mail to the enclosed extract.

   I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

                A WELL WISHER. 

 "THE TROOPS.-14TH REGIMENT OF NATIVE INFANTRY.- Remarkably fortunate march of the left wing of this corps. The left wing, under the command of Capt. W. F. Todd, marched from French Rocks en route for Jaulaah on the 19th of February; on the 22nd the route was altered, and the corps ordered to proceed to Kamptee; and on the 24th of the same month an order was received, directing the corps to proceed to this station.* The left wing had then just crossed the Toombuddra river, which it recrossed on the 25th of February, and countermarched for this station, where it arrived on Tuesday morning last, the 21st instant, all healthy and well, not having sustained a single casualty, either of effective men or followers, during this long march; and there were only four sick with the wing on its arrival, and these very trifling cases. Great care and attention were, we understand, always taken by the commanding officer and the medical men to select suitable ground for encampment, and the sepoys were particularly cautioned against eating fruit or trash in the villages, whilst especial care was taken that they should never be fatigued or overworked on any occasion. These measures combined, with the absence of anxiety or alarm, no doubt tended to the happy results recorded.

 "As soon as it was known that the corps was coming here, all the followers that could be spared were sent on in advance, and reached this some days before the wing.

 "The families of the regiment having been left at French Rocks on its marching, a guard was sent from Raidroog to bring them on here, and they arrived on Wednesday morning, the 22nd instant, without suffering the smallest loss.

 "We have been thus particular in noticing this march of the left wing of the 14th regt. N.I. which has been upwards of two months under canvas, and moving where other corps suffered much loss, without having a single casualty. There must be something wrong in the different systems pursued. Supplies of all sorts are said to have been readily obtained, and water, although not very plentiful, was generally found in sufficient quantities for all purposes required. The fact is, that when a corps is marching, if news spreads that there is cholera in camp, the village people take the alarm and disappear. The right wing of the 14th regt., which is some days' march in the rear, is, we regret to state, suffering from cholera. But by the last accounts it was abating, there having been no fresh cases since the 19th instant, and those in hospital were recovering." 

• Bangalore

Death: 1896, in Paddington district, London, England, aged 91
A memorial window was inserted into the church of All Saints in Tarrant Keyneston in 1897 by D’arcy Todd in memory of Frederick and Jane Todd.