Herbert Laurence Todd was the son of Herbert and Annie Birkett Todd. His father was a manager of the United Alkali Works in Jarrow.

He joined the High School in 1893 at the age of 9, and left in 1901 to go into business.

By 1911, his father was a Metal and Chemical Merchant, and Herbert junior appears to have been a clerk with the company.

Not much is known about his war service, other than he served as Lieutenant with the 4th Battalion, Northumberland Howitzers.

He survived the war, and died on 25-Mar-1942 at the Ingham Informary, South Shields.