James Park Woods

James Park Woods VC, (4 January 1886–18 January 1963) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Woods was born at Two Wells, South Australia in 1886 and was raised by a stepsister after his parent's death. He tried to enlist in 1914 but was rejected owing to his height of 163 cm (5 ft 4 ins). Eventually he enlisted in the AIF on 29 September 1916 after height restrictions were lowered.

He was 27 years old, and a private in the 48th Battalion, (S.A.), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 18 September 1918, near Le Verguier, north-west of St. Quentin, France, Private Woods, with a weak patrol, attacked and captured a formidable enemy post, which, with two comrades, he held against heavy counterattacks. Jumping on to the parapet he fired, and kept on firing, inflicting severe casualties and holding up the enemy until help arrived.

Woods died on 18 January 1963 in the Hollywood Repatriation Hospital and is buried in Karrakatta cemetery.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial "(Canberra, Australia)".

References

*Matthew Higgins, ' [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120631b.htm Woods, James Park (1886-1963)] ', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol.12, Melbourne University Press, 1990 p.564.
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)