Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Also served in WW1 under the name Francis Patrick Conserdyne, Sergeant S.N. 65, Mining Corps, AIF.

When William Todd enlisted in 1901 for the South African (Boer) war in the 5th QIB and his details were published in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his mother Mrs. Todd, Hutton Ln, Adelaide St, Brisbane. In the original nominal roll for the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, held by National Archives, it is recorded his N.O.K. was his mother Mrs. R. Todd, Hutton Ln, Adelaide St, Brisbane.

In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 57, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. R. Todd, Hutton Lane, Brisbane. 

When he enlisted on 15 Nov 1915 for WW1 he used the name Francis Patrick Conserdyne. It was noted on his Attestation Paper that; he was born at Brisbane and he was 35 years 1 month of age; He was single and a labourer, he nominated a friend Mrs. Begbie, Bunda Bunda Station, Richmond, Qld, in place of a N.O.K.; and that he had not previously served.

William Todd was born on 14 Oct 1882 at Darlington, Queensland, a son to William Todd and Rachel Todd (nee Keith). When he passed on 1 Nov 1935 his death was registered with BDM Qld under the name Francis Patrick Conserdyne, born 1882 to William Todd and Rachel Keith. He was twice married. In 1910 under William Todd he married Mary Ann Cooper. Then in 1920 under the name Francis Patrick Conserdyne he married Jane Mayoh.

When he passed at Bowen in 1935 an obituary was published in The Bowen Independant, 4 Nov 1935, for William Todd. The obituary discloses the origins of his alternate name, Francis Patrick Conserdyne, though the explanation conflicts in how that may have come about when read against his Boer war enlistment and nomination of N.O.K. and payments of part of his wage to his mother.

It notes he had resided, and married for the second time, in Bowen since 1920 where he engaged in farming, waterside work and as a labourer with the Town Council. When he passed he left a widow with 6 young children. The introduction of the obituary discussing the origins of his alternate name is transcribed below.

Obituary: William Todd- The Bowen Independant, 4 Nov 1935, p. 2.

There passed away suddenly at his home Friday afternoon, a well-known resident of Bowen in the person of William Todd, aged 65 years. Deceased was not known by that name locally, but as Francis Patrick Conserdyne. He was born in Brisbane and ran away from home at an early age, being later adopted by a devout Roman Catholic family, which caused him to join that denomination, his name being changed to Conserdyne. Little is known of his life prior to the Great War, except that he spent much of it in the west, and went through the Boer War with the Australian Contingent. He served throughout the Great War with the 1st Tunnelling Coy., A.I.F., leaving the army with the rank of Sergeant......

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 501; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 6; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 57; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record; Obituary- The Bowen Independant, 4 Nov 1935, p. 2).