Ronnie Tod
| Ronald John Frederick Tod | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 November 1905 |
| Died | 5 April 1975 (aged 69) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1925–48 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands held |
No. 9 Commando 2nd Special Service Brigade |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards |
Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order & Bar |
Brigadier Ronald John Frederick "Ronnie" Tod CBE, DSO & Bar (3 November 1905 – 5 April 1975) was a British Army officer who was instrumental in the development of the British Commandos during the Second World War.
Tod was born on 3 November 1905. On graduation from Royal Military College, Sandhurst he was commissioned into the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders as a second lieutenant on 29 January 1925. On 14 December 1932 (now a lieutenant) he was seconded for service with the Colonial Office, joining 4th Battalion, Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force. He was promoted captain on 6 June 1935, and took command of one of the battalion's companies. His secondment ended on 1 August 1938, and he returned to the UK, taking up regimental duties with 1st Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in early 1939.
In March 1940, following the outbreak of the Second World War, Tod volunteered to join the Independent Companies being raised for the Norwegian Campaign. He was promoted to acting major on 2 April and became Officer Commanding No. 6 Independent Company on 25 April. He held that post until June when he was tasked with raising No. 11 Independent Company. As commander of this company, he led them on two "commando" raids shortly afterwards, one to Boulogne in France known as Operation Collar, and Operation Ambassador, which was a raid on the German occupied Guernsey. These were the first two such raids carried out by British commandos during the war. Just before the second of these raids he was confirmed as a temporary major on 2 July 1940.
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