Background
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.
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).
Woodward was made an acting Captain on 23 October 1916. On 9 November 1916 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.
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.
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.
Quotations:
"Foreign 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." The ruined house was known as "The Red House". "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".
"Foreign 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".