Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Affectionately known as Jack, John’s family came from Liverpool in England where he was born on the 13th August 1910 to Mathew and Mary Ellen Woodall. The family then moved to South Australia where they settled in the town of Exeter at Port Adelaide and brought up their eight children. John was five when his youngest brother, Tom was born on the 26th October, 1915. His siblings included Elizabeth Monica (Mona), Nora, Kathleen, Rupert Roy, Thomas, Val and May.
The children attended the local St Joseph’s School at Port Adelaide. Post school, Jack successfully turned his hand to a variety of occupations including as a fifteen-year-old apprentice jockey with the South Australian Jockey Club. He also became a respected racing horse trainer, motor driver and ran his own business which he listed as ‘own account’. He was an active member of the Port Adelaide branch of the Port Carters and Drivers, undertaking the role as trustee for many years. At their annual picnic, Jack also featured as a successful runner in the single men’s races.
With the outbreak of WWII, Jack and his brother Tom were two of the early enlistees on the 29th June ’40 when Jack was 29 and Tom 24. They were quite astute in assessing how they could both be in the same battalion, spacing their presence so that Tom was given the number SX7212 and John SX7215. Both were then allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion (Soon after the brothers returned from the Middle East, older brother Rupert Roy also enlisted on the 30th March ’43 as VX125562.)
Jack and Tom’s early days were spent in the Motor Pavilion of what is now the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds where their ‘beds’ were straw filled hessian on wooden pallets. The battalion then trained in the Adelaide Hills before they had brief pre-embarkation leave.
Jack and Cora Mary Stephens of Queenstown had announced their engagement in April ’34. Cora was a respected nurse on the staff at Murray Bridge, and was the daughter of M.P. J.E. Stephens, who was also heavily involved in the South Australian Trotting Club. However, with the war erupting, the young couple decided to marry on the 17th August 1940 before Jack was posted overseas. A guard of honor was formed by fellow enlistees from the Army at the ceremony held at the Queenstown Church of Christ. Jack chose his brother, by then Private Tom Woodall, as his best man.
The battalion finally boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East, in November, arriving on the 17th December. The brothers then marched to a Staging Camp. During those early days, besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the locals. Within months, the 2/48th Battalion was involved in intense conflicts where their reputation for being the most highly decorated but decimated battalion was earned. Jack and Tom were to become one of the respected and famed Rats of Tobruk.
Jack was seriously wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his head and a fractured humerus on the 13th September ‘41. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described the heavy shelling the Battalion had faced before then counteracting with mortars moving forward ‘and conducting a very successful shoot. Three direct hits were observed on enemy mortar positions.’ However, shelling continued to harass the men, and during the next five days, SX7215 John Woodall, SX10909 Bill Southern, SX10570 Herb Ashby, SX6766 Herb Dawson and SX8268 William McKay were wounded. Jack and the men were evacuated to hospital, and then Jack to the British General Hospital before being sent to the Australian General Hospital.
His injury was reported in the News at the end of September ‘Mrs. J. Woodall of Hubbard street, York, has been notified that her husband, Pte. J. Woodall, was wounded in action on September 13. He enlisted in June, 1940 and sailed for overseas in November. He was a horse trainer before he enlisted. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodall, of Baker street, Birkenhead. Another son, Pte. T. Woodall, is serving overseas.’
Just three months later whilst Jack was still recuperating, he and Cora were devastated at the death of Cora’s 27-year-old brother, Max, a successful trotting driver at Wayville and country meetings, who died in January ’42 at the home of his parents. He was buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery. By March ’42 Jack was medically classified as ‘Temporarily Unfit for service by Medical Board’ and he was then discharged to return to Australia from the Middle East. Over the following months. Jack was placed on sick leave with him continuing to receive treatment on his fractured humerus. November again brought unwanted news of Jack’s brother Tom being ‘wounded in Egypt on October 25. Pte. Woodall enlisted in June. 1940, and left for overseas in November of that year. He served in Tobruk and Syria. His brother, Pte. Jack Woodall, was wounded in Tobruk last year and has now returned.’
Jack was finally discharged on the 28th July ’43. That year, Jack learned of Tom’s death in New Guinea on the 19th November ’43 near Coconut Ridge, Sattelberg Road New Guinea. The battalion’s casualties were, though it was not immediately known then, to number more than one hundred.
Over the following years, Jack and Cora continued to remember Tom.
Advertiser, Tuesday 30 November 1943, WOODALL. Cpl T. L. WOODALL, Cpl T. L.—ln loving memory of our dear brother Tom. killed in action, N.G. Beneath the cross of sacrifice, he lies among Australia's brave.— Too dearly loved to ever be forgotten.— Jack (AIF ret.) and Cora.
Advertiser Monday 20 November 1944, WOODALL, Cpl—Loving memories of our brother Tom. 2/48th Btn., died of wounds in N.G. Nov. 19. 1943. Two little words not hard to write, but we will remember them all our life—out brother Remembered by Jack and Cora
Advertiser Monday 19 November 1945, WOODALL.—In loving memory ot our brother Tom, died of wounds, N.G, November 19. 1943. 2/48th Batt. No matter what the years may bring, loving memories always cling.—Sadly missed by Jack and Cora.

Tragedy again struck the young couple when 36-year-old Cora died. She was buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery with her brother, Max. WOODALL.—On April 19, at hospital, Cora May, dearly beloved wife of John Woodall, of No. 110 Hanson road, Woodville North, and loving daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Stephens, and loving sister of Henry, Will, Cyril, Edna, Lyla, Leo, Max (deceased), and Vera: aged 36 years. At rest.
Jack’s farewell was poignant. Advertiser Monday 19 April 1948 WOODALL.—In loving memory of Cora, who passed away April 19. 1547. Sweet memories. lnserted by Jack.’ Advertiser Tuesday 19 April 1949 WOODALL.—In loving memory of my dear wife Cora, passed away April 19, 1947. Beautiful memories of one so dear. —Ever remembered by Jack.
In later years Cora and Max’s parents, Nellie and James were also buried with their children, Nellie in ’49 and James in ’62.
Jack returned to the sport he loved, training winners. In ’53 he teamed up with a renown cross-country jockey, Noel Henningsen. He also took his horses to several country meetings, including at Kadina. There, his horse placed second behind one trained by Clift Snodgrass. The Kadina and Wallaroo Times in their January article summarised ‘The irony of fate came into the result of the race and brought two soldiers of World War II together again. The owner of the second horse, Mr J. Woodall came to congratulate Mr Clift Snodgrass on his victory and the two had not met since they served together in the war. Good sportsmanship usually prevails amongst these winners and losers.’ Clift and Jack had both been members of the 2/48th Battalion, Clift as SX8271. He had been discharged in October ’43, just months after Jack.
Aged 88, John died on the 7th November, 1998. His service is remembered in the Garden of Remembrance at Pasadena, South Australia.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.