Pride swells for VC forebears
When young James Woods dons his medals on Anzac Day, his thoughts turn to all the World War I soldiers who never came home but also to one who did - his great-grandfather James Park Woods, the Victoria Cross hero whose name he shares.
Ten-year-old James, his siblings and cousins know the story of their humble forebear and his wartime service. In a war filled with brave young men, he was recognised as among the bravest.
On September 18, 1918, Woods and Lt Robert Reid were on an advance patrol, moving quietly through enemy trenches near Le Verguier, when they stumbled across 30 German soldiers with six machineguns.
Reid soon had an enemy bayonet at his stomach and Woods decided the best option was to make it seem like a larger attack. He began shouting "Australia" and firing his rifle, scaring the enemy away, according to an account from military historian Neville Browning.
Woods agreed to guard the strategically important position while Reid went for reinforcements. But when Reid became lost, Woods was left for two hours on his own to defend the precarious spot.
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The German soldiers realised they had been driven out by a small force and began attacking from the surrounding trenches and across the open ground.
VC hero James Park Woods
Woods climbed into the parapet and used their own machineguns against them, refusing to retreat even when gas shells began landing around him.
"Fully thirty men were pitted against this one lad when I returned with reinforcements," Reid wrote later. "As soon as the position was assured, Woods took a report back to his company commander over the top, exposed to snipers all the way, and got through safely."
Reid recommended Woods for the VC. Woods described his actions simply with: "It was just an order and I tried to carry it out". In a letter to his sister about a month later, he said he had "got into a tight place, didn't have time to think about that though, at the time".
Woods, who was first rejected for enlistment because he was not tall enough, returned to Caversham in 1919. He started a successful vineyard and orchard and married local girl Olive Wilson. They had seven children. Two of their sons, Norman and Gordon, served in the air force during WWII, before Gordon was killed in a training accident.
Norman and his brother Evan remembered their father as a hard worker, a devoted family man and a keen cricket fan who would bowl spin to his children in the backyard. He was also quiet and modest, uncomfortable with being the centre of attention.
It was a trait he shared with his friend and fellow Victoria Cross recipient Thomas "Jack" Axford, whom his sons remember visiting their Mosman Park home.
The pair often marched in Anzac Day parades together, with WA's other VC awardees, including John Carroll and Hugo Throssell.
Woods had to give up work because of lung damage from being gassed during the war. Although he suffered chronic bronchitis and regular bouts of pneumonia, as well as nightmares about the war, Woods lived to age 77. He was buried with military honours at Karrakatta in 1963.
Now, his memory lives on in the younger generations of his family. Although he had died long before they were born, his great-granddaughter Rachel, 12, said knowing her family history made Anzac Day even more meaningful. "In the minute's silence, I always say thanks to all of them, especially Great-Grandad, but everyone else, too," she said.
James wants to attend the dawn service in Margaret River because his family will be away from home.
He also wants to visit Gallipoli one day.
"I always think about him but also all the soldiers who died," James said.
"It is hard to even imagine how many there were."
In the minute's silence, I always say thanks to all of them." Rachel Woods, great-granddaughter
