WOODS Thomas Desmond Charles

Private, THOMAS DESMOND CHARLES, 1928. 42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 4th October 1917. Age 21. Son of Charles Stubbs Woods and Jane Frank Woods, of Cooroy, Queensland. Native of Hawkesbury River, New South Wales. Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31 http://www.oocities.org/thefallenofthe42nd/war-graves/aust-belgium.htm

The Chronicle 31 May 1918 p1, MAROOCHY RIVER.THE LAST TIDINGS. Mr. Chas. Woods, of Maroochy River, has received in respect of the death of his son in action on 4th Oct., 1917 at Paschendaele Ridge on the Western Front, the following letter from the late soldier's commanding officer:- France, 13/3/ 17. C. Woods, Esq., Dear Sir, In reply to your communication of 28/12/17 I beg to inform you that nothing further than what has already been done can be expected in the case of your son K. in A, 4/10/1917. I should like to add a few personal remarks to my letter now to let you know some personal detail of your son's work in the action in which he was killed. At this time I was in charge of his Coy. and had your son as one of my runners, i.e. one of those selected for carrying messages in action. For this work he proved an excellent soldier: he voluntarily faced the greatest dangers of artillery fire and I feel certain that he did not know the meaning of the word fear or several of my messages would never have been delivered. I was wounded about 10.30 a.m. on 4th October and your son assisted me through heavy artillery fire back to the dressing station about 1 mile in rear. Here I thanked him for his assistance and he hurried away back to carry on his arduous work. It was shortly after his return that he fell. His death was instantaneous, the knowledge of which fact is I know a consolation to all parents. May I offer you my sincere sympathy in your loss. I trust it may be of great consolation to you to know that your boy was courageous and fearless in the execution of his tasks, an attribute which is the highest one could pay a soldier in action. I had just returned to my unit when your letter came to hand and I am glad to have been able to attend to this matter personally. I am only sorry that any further action on his behalf is beyond me. Believe me. Yours Sincerely, G. A. DUNBAR, Capt. Adjutant for CO. 42nd Batt. A.I.F.

Thomas was aged just 19 years 11 months when he enlisted at Brisbane on 15ty March 1915 as a Private. He served in both the 42nd and 69th Battalion. He named his Mother Jane Frank Woods, of Maroochy River, Yandina as his next of kin. He embarked for overseas from Brisbane, Qld. Ex "Boorara" (? spelling) on 16th August, 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth 0n 13th October, 1916. He left Southampton for France on 25th November, 1916 and was shortly after hospitalised in The field with Bronchitis which then saw him transferred from the Wimereau 14th General Hospital to Boulogne and then again transferred to England - Chichester - Graylingwell war hospital - Ex "St Denis" with very serious Broncho Pneumonia. He was not pronounced "out of danger" until 1st January, 1917. He was then granted leave until 15th February, 1917. He was to report for duty at the No.4 Com. Depot from the No.1 Com. Depot. On 23rd March 1917 he was transferred from the 42nd Battalion to the 69th Battalion and was charged with being A W L at Wareham on 11th April, 1917 for which he forfeited 3 days pay. He was again transported over to France - Rouelles - from Southampton on 23 rd August, 1917 and joined his unit on 31st August. On 2nd September, 1917 he was sent to help reinforce the 42nd Battalion in The Field..

He was sadly killed in action in The Field in Belgium on 4th October, 1917. His Will sites his Father Charles Stubbs Woods of Maroochy River, Yandina, Qld. as beneficiary and his brothers Vincent Wellington Woods, Gordon Charles Woods, and Alfred Albert Woods, all the same address if predeceased by his Father. His personal Estate was to his Mother.
Letter on File dated 18th July, 1921 - To The Officer in Charge, H.Q. - A I F. from Thomas's Mother - address then Strathmore, Cooroy, Qld. - "Dear Sir, About the end on 1917 I applied for the effects or rather the articles of the kit bag of my Son T. D. C. Woods - 1928 - 42 Battalion. Killed in action 4 October. I only received a book. It was thought that nothing was saved. Now you are about to close the books for lost property. If you would be so good as to send me a parcel, coat or the like it would be handy on the farm. 4 of my sons volunteered and served abroad, the Dad and I worked for the cause of the Glorious Army and helped in many ways. Thanking you in anticipation, I remain, yours faithfully, Jane Frank Woods." The Memorial plaque No. 335962 was sent directly to his Father on 4th October, 1922. as was his Victory Medal.

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

Yandina and District War Memorial, Stevens St, Yandinal

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)(on scroll 3 times)

Maroochy Shire War Dead, Quota Park, Matthew Street, Nambour

Samford Avenue of Honour (opened 2015)

42nd Battalion Memorial, Anzac Square, Brisbane