Oliver Woodward
| Oliver Holmes Woodward | |
|---|---|
 Captain Oliver Woodward c. 1917 | |
| Born |
8 October 1885 Tenterfield, New South Wales |
| Died |
24 August 1966 (aged 80) Hobart, Tasmania |
| Allegiance |
 Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1915–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 1st Australian Tunnelling Company |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Military Cross & Two Bars Mentioned in Despatches |
| Other work | President of the Australian Mining and Metals Association (1952–1954) |
Captain Oliver Holmes Woodward CMG, MC & Two Bars (8 October 1885 – 24 August 1966) was an Australian metallurgist, mine manager and soldier noted for his tunnelling activities at the Ypres Salient during the First World War.[1]
Early life
Woodward was born in Tenterfield, New South Wales to a pioneering family of Scottish ancestry who had been among the first settlers in the district. He was educated at public schools and for two years at Newington College (1903–1904).[2]
World War One
Woodward was made an acting Captain on 23 October 1916.[3] On 9 November 1916[4] the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company took over tunnelling operations under German lines near Messines and safeguarded two mines, one (Hill 60) charged with 53,000 pounds (24,000 kg) of Ammonal explosive and the other (The Caterpillar) with 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg). The mines had been earlier laid by the 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Company. At the start of the Battle of Messines, on 7 June 1917, Captain Woodward had the duty of detonating the two mines.
Post-war life
On 3 September 1920, he married Marjorie Moffat Waddell (d. 30 July 1978). They had a daughter and two sons.
Woodward later had a distinguished civil mining career. In 1935 he became the general manager of North Broken Hill, and was appointed to the board of directors in 1944. He retired as general manager in 1947, but was a director until 1961.
In 1952, he moved from Adelaide to Hobart, Tasmania and died there on 24 August 1966. He was cremated; a memorial plaque to Woodward and his wife is in the Derwent Gardens section of the Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart.
Awards and decorations
Woodward was awarded the Military Cross and Two Bars, for the following three actions:[5]
- Military Cross: awarded for actions at Le Touquet on 10–11 June 1916. Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and determination when, after repeated attempts under very difficult circumstances, he succeeded in blowing up a ruined house 120 yards from our trenches. This house had been frequently used as an enemy sniper post."[6] The ruined house was known as "The Red House".
- Bar to Military Cross: awarded for actions at Bony, Aisne on 29 September 1918. Citation: "On September 29th, 1918, at Bony, he was in charge of three sections working on a forward road, under heavy enemy shell and machine-gun fire. Owing to the infantry advance being checked, the position on the forward road became very involved. By his courage and resourcefulness in patrolling the road and organising the work he succeeded in carrying the work forward, thus enabling the subsequent attacks to be carried through. He set a fine example to his men at a time when casualties were heavy and rendered throughout the day very valuable and accurate reports".[7]
- Second Bar to Military Cross: awarded for actions at Rejet-de-Beaulieu on 4 November 1918. Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the night of the 3rd/4th November 1918, at Rejet de Beaulieu, when his section was entrusted with the construction of a heavy bridge to carry tanks. The successful completion of this work within five hours after zero was mainly due to his detailed preparations made at very short notice under intense artillery and machine-gun fire".[8] His Commanding Officer had recommended him for the award of the Distinguished Service Order but this was later downgraded to a second bar to the Military Cross.[9]
In the 1956 New Years Honours List, Woodward was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for "services to Mining and Metallurgy in the Commonwealth of Australia".[10]
Depictions in fiction
The 2010 film Beneath Hill 60 is based on his exploits during the First World War with the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company. Woodward is played by Brendan Cowell.[11]
References
- ↑ McNicoll, Ronald. "Australian Dictionary of Biography Online". Adbonline.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ↑ Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 220
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29874. p. 12460. 19 December 1916. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs and Board of Studies NSW (December 2010). "Zwarte-Leen, Hill 60". Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ↑ "Crumps And Camouflets: Australian Tunnelling Companies on the Western Front"; Damien Finlayson. ISBN 978-0-9806582-5-5
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29684. p. 7443. 25 July 1916. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31480. p. 9709. 29 July 1919. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31680. p. 15295. 9 December 1919. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ↑ "Honours and Awards Search – Woodward, Oliver Holmes". Australian War Memorial Website. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40670. p. 39. 30 December 1955. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ "Beneath hill 60 – Home". The Silence Productions Pty Ltd. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
External links
- Detailed biography on www.tunnellers.net
- Beneath Hill 60 (ABC North Queensland)
- Oliver Holmes WOODWARD at The AIF Project
- Woodward, Oliver Holmes (1885–1966)