| Accession Number | P04334.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Place made | Australia: New South Wales, Sydney |
| Date made | c 1915 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 3971 Private (Pte) Arthur Woodhead, 12th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion, of ...
Description
Studio portrait of 3971 Private (Pte) Arthur Woodhead, 12th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion, of Enfield, NSW (originally of Sheffield, England), aged 19 years. Pte Woodhead enlisted on 12 August 1915 and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Medic on 30 December 1915. He saw service at the Western Front and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for gallantry east of Ypres, in October 1917. His commanding officer put forward the recommendation which read: "During the enemy counter attack on our position EAST of YPRES on Oct 7th these two men were Nos 1 & 2 of a Lewis gun team with a limited field of fire. The enemy's advancing infantry had reached to within 50 yards of our line when Ptes WOODHEAD and PETTIT sprang out of their trench and standing on the parapet in full view of the enemy Woodhead fired the gun resting it on Pettit's shoulder and continued to do so until the remnants of the attacking lines returned and they were ordered back into the trench...". Pte Woodhead was killed in action on on 28 March 1918 and is buried at the Ridge Wood Military Cemetery in Belgium.