Circumstances of Casualty: Killed in Action.
Location of Unit at Time of Casualty: Attack South West of St. Julien.
BX May 25, 1915
Gave Life Trying to Save a Comrade – Private Thomas Henry Podd Killed in Action – Brantford Soldier Lived and Died Like a Soldier and a Man – Father Received Word This Morning That He Was Killed in the Fighting of April 23
The name of Private Thomas H. Podd, son of Walter Podd, 56 Balfour St., is the latest to be added to the list of Brantford men who have given their lives for their country. Word was received by Mr. Podd yesterday from Pte. Dean, of the Fourth Battalion to the effect that his son had been killed in action and this was confirmed this morning by the receipt of a letter from Lieut. H.H. Washington, of the machine gun section. Podd was killed while going to the aid of a wounded comrade, and, in the words of his commanding officer, he died “a soldier and a brave man.”
Private Thomas Henry Podd was well known here. He had served with the Royal Garrison artillery in England and in India. At the time war broke out he was working in Sarnia, but he came back to this city to enlist with the Dufferin Rifles, having previously served for a year with the local corps. He was a single man, born in Essex, Eng.
When the heavy list of Canadian casualties came out, the name of Private Thomas Henry Podd, of Lancashire, Eng., was among the names listed under the 4th Battalion. An Expositor representative visited the home of his father, at 56 Balfour Street, and asked if the name could possibly been that of Private Podd. Mr. W. Podd did not think so, but he had not heard from France since that time until the letter received yesterday, and he now thinks that the name was that of his son, but that a telegraphic error had been made in making out the list.
Letter from Officer
The letter from Lieutenant H.H. Washington, of the machine gun section, to which Private Podd was drafted owing to his knowledge of artillery, reads as follows:
May 8, 1915
4th Batt., 1st Brig.
1st Can. Ex. Force,
France
Dear Mr. Podd,
It is with great regret that I announce the death of your son in action on April 23. His conduct under terrific fire was of the coolest. Rushing to the aid of a wounded comrade, he was killed. As a soldier and man, I had the highest respect for him and his death is heavily felt in the machine gun section. Your son died a soldier and a brave man.
H.H. Washington, Lieut.
4th Canadian Battalion
BX July 3, 1915
Three Names of Brantford Men Killed – Pte. Frank Alfred Ellis Reported Killed – Privates George Huggins and Thomas Henry Podd Officially Reported – Heroic Conduct
In the list of casualties published at Ottawa yesterday afternoon appear the names of three Brantford men, Thomas Henry Podd, Frank Alfred Ellis and George Huggins. Two of these, Private Huggins and Private Podd, have previously been reported killed, but the name of Pte. F.A. Ellis has not previously been included among those who have given up their lives on the field of battle.
Private Ellis, who by trade was a plasterer, left his work at the outbreak of the war, and volunteered his services with the first contingent of Dufferin Rifles, under Major Malcolm Alexander Colquhoun. He had previously served for five years with the 38th D.R.C. Private Ellis resided at 8 Huron Street at the time of his enlistment. He was unmarried.
