Gawler & District College year 11 student Joel Hough is using his study to push for amemorial to Two Wells war hero James Park Woods. PHOTO: Sam Bradbrook
A GAWLER student is dedicating part of his high school studies to ensure the name of a Two Wells war hero is known throughout the region.
Gawler & District College student Joel Hough is researching the life of World War One Victoria Cross recipient Private James Park Woods for his year 11 research project, and wants to use his findings to push for a memorial to Pte Woods to be built in his hometown.
Pte Woods was born in Two Wells in 1886 before he joined the Australian Armed Forces and fought in World War One, where he would receive the Victoria Cross – the highest award for gallantry in the Australian Armed Forces.
The diminutive Pte Woods – who stood only 163cm tall – attempted to enlist in the armed forces four times, but was rejected each time due to his height.
After growing frustrated with being continuously rejected in his home state, he caught a two month long train to Western Australia and enlisted there.
Joel said Pte Woods deserves to be memorialised in his hometown, even though he enlisted in another state.
“I saw he was a local boy, and I looked at the Two Wells memorial and he wasn’t there, so I researched more and found out it’s because he enlisted in Western Australia,” he said.
“He has a memorial over there (Western Australia), but it would be great to see him have one in his hometown.
“A plaque is the least he deserves, but something better would be deserving to commemorate his valour and honour.”
In the final months of the war, Pte Woods was sent to Saint Quentin, France, where he took part in a raid with four other soldiers on a German bunker defended by six machine guns and 15 additional men.
After taking the bunker, against all odds, he and another soldier then stayed there for several hours to defend it from repeated German counter attacks, with Pte Woods climbing out from cover
to hold off the assault by himself.
He was awarded the Victorian Cross for his efforts in battle, and returned home to live in the Swan Valley until his death in 1963.
Joel said he had always been in awe of war heroes, and wanted one of the region’s bravest soldiers to always be remembered.
“I’ve always admired Victoria Cross winners and I thought it’s cool that we have one in the area,” he said.
“Not many people have the courage to do things as heroic as that, so it’s pretty cool how they are awarded with the highest medal possible.
“What our soldiers did shaped how we are today, so it’s really important to always remember them.”
