James Park Woods

Seized a strongpoint and held it against repeated onslaught.

James Park Woods was born in South Australia in 1886. After his parents died, a stepsister helped raise him. He worked in vineyards and later moved to Western Australia, where he carted timber, fenced and grew grapes at Caversham. Repeated attempts to enlist failed because he was too short, until reduced height requirements allowed him to join the Australian Imperial Force in September 1916.

Woods left Australia that December and reached France in September 1917 as a reinforcement for the 48th Battalion. Illness repeatedly interrupted his service before he returned to the battalion in August 1918.

On 18 September, near Le Verguier, Woods and two companions encountered a German strongpoint holding several machine guns and more than thirty soldiers. He led an immediate attack instead of waiting for a larger assault force. The defenders fled or surrendered. During subsequent counter-attacks, Woods climbed onto the parapet and threw grenades supplied by his companions, holding the position until reinforcements arrived. He received the Victoria Cross for the action.

Returning to Australia in 1919, Woods established a small vineyard and orchard in the Swan Valley. He married Olive Adeline Wilson in 1921 and raised a family. Persistent illness from his war service eventually forced him to stop farming. He received a full pension in 1937 and became active in his local returned servicemen’s organization. Two sons served in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War; Gordon was killed in 1943.

Woods attended the VC centenary celebrations in London in 1956. He died in Perth on 18 January 1963 and was buried at Karrakatta.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Le Verguier, north-west of St. Quentin, on the 18th September, 1918, when, with a weak patrol, he attacked and captured a very formidable enemy post, and subsequently, with two comrades, held the same against heavy enemy counter-attacks. Although exposed to heavy fire of all descriptions, he fearlessly jumped on the parapet and opened fire on the attacking enemy, inflicting severe casualties. He kept up his fire and held up the enemy until help arrived, and throughout the operations displayed a splendid example of valour, determination and initative.

Supplement to The London Gazette of 24 December 1918. 26 December 1918, Numb. 31082, p. 15119