Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the Bridgnorth area who died during the two World Wars.
John Ernest Todd was born in Bridgnorth in 1891, the son of William and Annie. The family were living in St John Street when he was born but they later moved to Underhill Street and then to New Road.
By 1911 John, now 19, had moved to Cleethorps, Lincolnshire with his brother William. They were working as motor mechanics for a trawler owner.
John served as Armourer's crew on HMS Invincible. He was killed on 25 April, 1916 when HMS Invincible was rammed in heavy weather by HMY Goissa. John appears to have fallen overboard in the collision and drowned. His body was not recovered.
John Todd's death was reported in the Bridgnorth Journal on 6th May, 1916.
REPORTED MISSING [Bridgnorth Journal 13th May, 1916] Mrs. Todd, 5 New Road, Bridgnorth, has received official information to [sic] her son, John Ernest Todd, armourer, is missing. After leaving the H.M.S. "Excellent" Todd served for a short time on H.M S. "Liverpool," and was on H.M.S. " Invincible" in the fight in the North Sea, and also in the fight off the Falkland Islands. His messmates expressed a desire to put a tablet to his memory in the church of St Mary Magdalene.
Although John Todd's name is amongst those listed on the WW1 memorial in St Mary Magdalene, he has no individual tablet - probably because his messmates perished on 31st May, 1916 when HMS Invincible was sunk during the Battle of Jutland.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg. For news of updates follow @BridgnorthHeros on Twitter.