WOODHOUSE, John James
| Service Number: | 6578 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 37th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Maffra, Victoria, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Sale, Gippsland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Longford State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Buttermaker |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 2 October 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Tincourt New British Cemetery Plot V, Row D, Grave No. 16. IN MEMORY OF LOVING SON OF MR. & MRS. WOODHOUSE OF SALE |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Rosedale Shire Honour Roll, Rosedale War Memorial, Sale Cenotaph, Warragul Great European War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6578, 6th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 6578, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 6578, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne | |
| 1 Oct 1918: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, St. Quentin Canal | |
| 2 Oct 1918: | Involvement Private, 6578, 37th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 6578 awm_unit: 37th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-10-02 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
The son of John and Caroline Woodhouse, of Palmerston St., Sale, Victoria.
John ‘Jack’ James Woodhouse left Australia on 2 October 1916, arrived on the Western Front 12 months later and died of wounds two years to the day since his embarkation. He was Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Le Catelet, on 1 October, 1918. He was sent forward as a scout and reconnoitred the northern entrance of the St. Quentin Canal Tunnel, which was close to the enemy's position, and under heavy fire. Later, he guided a section to command the entrance of the tunnel, and whilst so doing was severely wounded. Throughout the operation he showed remarkable resource and an utter disregard of danger.”
He was mortally wounded during the action for which he was decorated, one of the last fights of the AIF at the Western Front, and died the next day.
His older brother, 79 Private Andrew Woodhouse was an original member of the 37th Battalion and was a awarded a Military Medal for gallantry as a stretcher bearer at Messines in 1917.
Another brother 1114 Sergeant Percy Woodhouse also served with the 37th Battalion.
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