WOODS Clarence George

Clarence was born at Brooklyn, Hawkesbury River, N S W on 27th August, 1894.

His brother Thomas Desmond Charles WOODS also enlisted and was killed at Brooksiende on 4 Oct 1917.

Mentioned as wounded in Chronicle 10 Aug 1917, p7.

The Chronicle 02 February 1918, p1 report of Soldiers comfort fund meeting on Jan 17 at Maroochy River mentions a welcome home social to be held 30 January for Gunner Woods, Gunner Youngman, Pte Cooper and Pte Eggins and that they will be presented with suitably engraved medals.
WW1 No.433 & WW2 Q89200 (Service records for No 433 are empty)

He was aged 20 years, a Labourer and Farmer, when he enlisted at Nambour on 13th April, 1915 as a Private in WW1. It must be mentioned here that Clarence enlisted in Both WW1 as Service No.433 but on checking that, the file was empty and all of the information on his war service in both wars (WW1 and WW2) were in the WW2 section of the service records with the service No. Q89200.

He named his father Charles Woods as his next of kin and a consent form for Clarence to join the forces is within the records. Father's address then being Maroochy River, Via. Nambour, Qld. and later Cooroy Qld.

He served in Gallipoli and France and was in battles such as Pozieres and Bullecourt.

Within his 1915 records there is a Statutory Declaration that he served at Gallipoli that he arrived Ex H M S Destroyer 165 on 27 March 1915 to the Unit Machine Gun Section, 8th Light Horse - Officer in Charge Lieut. Colonel A White. He departed Ex Hospital Ship "Dunluce Castle" with Influenza on 29th September, 1915 to the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance - then to the Gallipoli Peninsular and discharged to his unit in the Field on 31st October, 1915. On 9th January 1916 he was disembarked Ex "Mudros" at Alexandria and on the 15th March 1916 he proceeded to join B E Forces at Alexandria. He disembarked at Marseilles on 21st March, 1916. On 26th August, 1916 in France he was mentioned for Distinguished Conduct during the fighting at Pozieres On 7th December, 1916 he was taken ill to hospital and on 20th December, 1916 he was hospitalised at Rowen France with Mumps. On 8th January, 1917 he was discharged from hospital to Base Duties then from Rowan to Etaples and Segregation Camp on 20th January, 1917 to 12th February, 1917. He was still being treated for Mumps on 15th February, 1917. It was not till the 10th April, 1917 that he left the hospital at Etaples to rejoin his unit in France which he did on the 26th April, 1917. It was on the 3rd May, 1917 that he was seriously wounded in action at Pozieres with a gun shot wound to the thigh and ankle and to the C C Station and was admitted to the Wimereau 0n 4th May, 1917. He was then transferred to England on 8th May, 1917 Ex "Boulogne" where he spent two and a half months in the Hospital at Stratford on Avon, U.K.. In a hospital record it states that the leg below the knee is paralysed but that there is some sensation and is improving.. He returned to Australia Ex "Benalla" on 26th October, 1917 (Emb. London 25th August, 1917) and was discharged 29th November, 1917. There is a "Congratulations for Gallantry by the Corps Commander dated 4th June, 1916 for his fighting at Pozieres and Bullecourt and a letter to his Father dated 11th May 1920 regarding the Congratulations being recorded by Headquarters. There are several more letters within his records as follows:-

A letter dated 22nd January, 1917 from Clarence's father stating his thanks for the telegrams regarding his son Thomas (brother of Clarence) but is now concerned about Clarence. He states that Clarence always writes once a week but has not heard from him for 2 months. "Do you know the reason?" Next Letter dated 28th May, 1917 is a letter from his brother, Mr C. Williams of Yandina, Qld. who required further information as to which hospital Clarence is in - France or England - and is he doing OK. He requested an address so that he could write to him which was duly given in another letter from Headquarters. Another letter dated 5th June, 1917 to Mr C. Williams, Maroochy River, Yandina, Qld. Advises that Clarence of the 7th Machine Gun Co. was admitted to the War Hospital, Stratford on Avon, England suffering a gun shot wound to the left thigh - severe and that all reports had been sent to his father Mr Charles Woods. Another letter dated 16th September, 1919 to the War Department from G.H. Mackay, This is regarding a letter from Clarence's father enquiring with regard to a medal for his son. The advice given in reply was to check with Brigadiers General Paton. A letter dated 1st May, 1920 to The officer in Charge, Base Records from Father Charles, Cooroy, Qld., as follows - "Dear Sir, I beg to now make application for a Certificate for my son, C.G. Woods, No. 433 late of 26th Battalion. M.G. Section, he enlisted at 20, served in Gallipoli, he "done" 2 years service, 1st class Machine Gunner and mentioned in an order 4/9/16 by Brigadier General Paton for great gallantry & devotion to duty in action on Pozieres 28thy July to 2nd August to 16th August. He was wounded by shrapnel at Bullecourt whilst helping a wounded comrade & invalided home. So far he has the lame leg & Returned Soldier's Badge to show, I would call your attention to the fact that his Lieutenant got a DSO in this action & also there was only Woods and another left to work the gun, his gallant Captain was "inthuisastic" over this action & my son's work & personally informed my son he was to receive honours, so far those honours have "went" elsewhere. I trust you will now make good. I am yours faithfully - Charles Woods." Next Letter dated 11th May, 1920 - An extract from Routine Orders by Brigadier General, W R Birdwood, Commander 1st Australian and New Zealand Army Corps - Headquarters 28/6/16 - "The following names of Officers, NCO's and men of the 2nd Australian Division have been brought to the notice of the Corps Commander for their good and gallant behaviour in connection with the recent hard fighting at Pozieres". It also records his appreciation for their excellent services - and names Private C G Woods - 26th Battalion. Next letter is dated 13th April, 1938 - a letter from Clarence and address then Burnside Nambour, Qld. requesting his war service medals needed for the 25th April. They were mailed and received by Clarence on 27th April, 1938. A letter from Clarence requesting his Anzac Medallion dated 13th June, 1967 - address then being 93 Benicia Street, Wavell Heights, Brisbane, Qld. [In Clarence's file there is a letter and a statutory declaration from another C Woods which has been incorrectly filed]

WW2 - He was aged 46 years 9 months when he enlisted in WW2 and states that he was born in Sydney, NSW., Married and a labourer. For his second enlistment he named his wife Violet Elizabeth Woods of Worthing Street, Wynnum Central, Qld. as his next of kin and he was discharged from WW2 on 21st July, 1945. His photo is on Page 2 of 57 pages within his WW2 records.

• Bullecourt
• Gallipoli
• Pozieres

Maroochy River Honour Board, Yandina RSL Hall, Cooloolabin Road, Yandina

Yandina/Maroochy River/North Arm Roll of Honour, Yandina School of Arts Hall, Corner of Stevens and Farrell Streets, Yandina

Maroochy Shire Honor Roll, Shire Chambers, Bury Street, Nambour

Nambour (Maroochy Shire) Roll of Honor Scroll, Private Collection, Nambour (this scroll was available for sale to the public after the war)

Queensland BDM
NSW BDM
Qld Electoral Rolls