James Park Woods VC (4 January 1886 � 18 January 1963) was an Australian recipient

of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy
that could be awarded to members of the Australian armed forces at the time. Woods
enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1916, and after training in
Australia and the United Kingdom, joined his unit, the 48th Battalion, in France in
September 1917. Along with the rest of his battalion, he participated in the First
Battle of Passchendaele the following month. In early 1918, Woods was hospitalised
for several months before rejoining his unit in May. He again reported sick in
July, and did not return to the 48th Battalion until mid-August.

On 18 September 1918, the 48th Battalion was involved in the attack on the
Hindenburg Outpost Line. After the first phase of the attack, some elements of
Woods' unit were tasked to support another battalion as it conducted a further
assault. When it was suspected that flanking British troops had not gone forward to
their objective as reported, a four-man patrol of which Woods was a member
attempted to make contact with them. Instead of finding British troops, they
encountered a strong German post and, after calling for reinforcements, attacked
it, driving more than thirty Germans from the position. Woods' actions during this
assault and subsequent defence of the captured post resulted in him being awarded
the Victoria Cross. Woods survived the war, returned to Australia and operated a
vineyard and orchard in Western Australia. He retired early due to ill health and
died in 1963. His medals are displayed in the Hall of Valour at the Australian War
Memorial.