WOODFIELD, John Donald
| Service Numbers: | 2143, 2143A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia , 1884 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Saint Peters College, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Grazier, Stock and Station Agent |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 7 July 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy-sur-Somme Plot 111, Row E, Grave 4, Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy St Pierre, Amiens, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Baulkham Hills William Thompson Masonic School War Memorial, Hackney St Peter's College Fallen Honour Board, Sydney United Grand Lodge Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 2143, 13th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 2143, 13th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne | |
| 7 Jul 1918: | Involvement Private, 2143A, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2143A awm_unit: 24 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-07-07 |
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From the book Fallen Saints - John Donald Woodfield of ‘Yartla’ South Yarra, Victoria was born in Goulburn New South Wales. After leaving Saint Peter’s Collegehe became a grazier and was later a stock and station agent for Elder Smith and Co., where during his eleven year career with them he became the manager of their Orroroo Branch in South Australia. He enlisted at Broken Hill NSW on 23 May 1916 and commenced his initial training with the 6th reinforcements for 57th Battalion at Seymour Victoria.
On 28 August, he was transferred to the Light Horse and on 6 December 1916 sailed from Melbourne aboard HMAT Orsova with the 13th quota of reinforcements for the 13th Light Horse Regiment. He disembarked at Plymouth on 17 February and marched in to Candahar Barracks but the following day was admitted to Bulford Hospital where he remained until joining the 6th Training Battalion at Tidsworth on 31 March.
Private Woodfield transferred from the Light Horse to the 24th Battalion on 21 July 1917, and on 30 July sailed from Southampton to join the 24th Battalion in France; he was taken on their strength in the field on 18 August. After being admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance suffering with severe wounds to the chest on 5 October he was evacuated via 10th Casualty Clearing Station to 16th General Hospital, Le TrePort. Shortly thereafter he was invalided to England where on 30 October he was admitted to Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol. He was discharged fit for furlough on 4 January 1918 at the completion of which he marched into No 1 Commonwealth Depot, Sutton Venny and while there was charged with neglecting to obey an order (out of bounds) and awarded 3 days CB. He proceed to France again on 19 June and when he rejoined his unit in the field on 24 June 1918 the letter ‘A’ was added to his regimental number.
2143A Private John Donald Woodfield was wounded during the fighting at Villers - Bretonneux on 4 July and died of wounds at the 47th Casualty Clearing Station on 7 July 1918; he was 34 years of age.
Reports and witness statements [i]
In a letter to the Red Cross written on behalf of the OC 47th Casualty Clearing Station dated 2 September 1918 Chaplain Alfred Harris wrote:
Re 2143A Pte J.D. Woodfield, 24th Battn. He was admitted to 47th C.C.S. 4-7-18 – shell wound involving fractured thigh. No operation possible, and he died 7-7-18. He was buried by me at Crouy – 62 D19.c.2.6. I wrote to his relatives.
When interviewed by a Red Cross representative On 3 October 1918 Private Charles Woolin said he knew John Woodfield well and that he came from Victoria where he thought he had been a farmer. ‘He was a big chap.’ Woolin stated that Woodfield was in a fatigue party carrying up Stokes Bombs to the front line on 4 July at Villers Bretonneux when he was badly wounded in the side by a bullet which had ricocheted off the bomb he was carrying. ‘I bandaged him up and handed him on to some German prisoners to carry him off to the D/Station. He died three days later at the C.C.S.’
In October Sergeant James Pitts MM who knew ‘Jack’ Woodfield very well described him as popular, tall but thickset, dark and although generally clean shaven always wore a moustache. He said Woodfield was in 14 Platoon. The sergeant said Woodfield who ‘used to be a station owner’ was ‘hit by a shell in the back, and died at the 47th CCS near Abbeville.’
John Woodfield’s brother, Lieutenant Sydney Reginald Woodfield DCM, 8th Light Horse Regiment returned to Australia in 1919.
Private William McAlpine, when interviewed on 10 October said, ‘I saw Jack Woodfield (D Coy) wounded through the stomach while we were on a carrying party (Stokes Mortars) to the left of Villers Bretonneux. I was taking an escort of prisoners back when Sgt Cooper (since killed) asked me to take Woodfield to the D/S. Four Germans carried him to the 2nd Div D/S where he was taken by motor to the C.C.S.’
John’s brother, Sydney Reginald Woodfield DCM, returned to Australia in 1919.
Recommendation for DCM - Sergeant Sydney Reginald Woodfield
‘At ATAWINEH. This N.C.O. during the whole engagement displayed great gallantry and courage in leading and directing his men and setting a fine example to his men. At one point when our troops were being hard pressed by the enemy Sergeant Woodfield found a Hotchkiss Gun idle, the team all being killed or wounded he brought this gun up into action under heavy fire using the gun with splendid results until the end of the engagement.’[ii]
[i] Australian War Memorial, Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files - Woodfield, John Donald / 3010604, viewed 8 April 2006
[ii] ibid, Honours and Awards (Recommendations: First World War) - Woodfield, Sydney Reginald / 2/127 - Australian Light Horse, Book Recommendations - 6/1917 to 12/1917 - Citation: AWM 28 2/127, p. 28
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