1925 commissioned  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; 1940 attached No.6 Independent Company and then Officer Commanding No.11 Independent Company; 1942 Commanding Officer No.6 Commando; 1944 awarded Distinguished Service Order (DSO), and later a Bar to the D.S.O., each for gallant and distinguished service in Italy whilst commanding No.9 Commando. Promoted Brigadier and Officer Commanding 2 Commando Brigade. 1945 awarded C.B.E. (Military Division) for gallant and distinguished service in Italy.

"We are saddened by the death on 5th April last of Brigadier Ronald John Froderick Tod CBE, DSO & Bar,  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, a Vice President of the Association and one of the first Commanding Officers of the Independent Companies from which Army Commandos were developed. Lt.Colonel Michael Allen (9 Commando) writes: Ronnie Tod, as he was universally and affectionately known, rose spontaneously during the Second World War to the occasion for which he had been trained as a regular soldier, and throughout his wartime commands of No. 6 Independent Company, No. 9 Commando and ultimately 2nd Commando Brigade, he operated as a talented, intrepid, and adventurous professional.  He instinctively recognised the right job to be done, acknowledged the supreme significance of the men with whom he had to see to the doing of it, and then commanded, cared for, and directed them accordingly. Those men remained under his command with unswerving resolution and loyalty for so long as they were fit and able.

Ronnie Tod was daunted by nothing except concern for his men, and at all times was inspired by an implacable determination that together they would achieve the object of whatever task or exercise was set them. He will happily have joined those whose names are inscribed in the Cornmando Roll of Honour Book which rests in St. George's Chapel, Westminster Abbey and we recall that the final completion of this Book of Remembrance was only made possible by his generosity. We have lost another comrade without the like of whom the Army Commandos would never have gained their place in the history of the British Army".