The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (596) Private James Woodlands, 54th Infantry Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (596) Private James Woodlands, 54th Infantry Battalion, AIF, First World War.

596 Private James Woodlands, 54th Infantry Battalion, AIF
KIA 12th April 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private James Woodlands.

James Woodlands was born in 1897 in Beechwood, New South Wales, on of ten children born to David and Johanna Woodlands. Woodland’s father was a well-known farmer in the area, owning land in Bellangry where he grew corn and ran a dairy farm.

James Woodlands was working as a labourer in his hometown at the outbreak of the war, and was not quite 19 years old when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on the 5th of January 1916. Assigned to the 54th Battalion, he embarked for active service on board the troopship Beltana in May that year.

Private Woodlands reached England in July, and spent a month training before joining his battalion in northern France. He spent the first months of his service manning the trenches of the Somme during the freezing winter of 1916 to 1917. In early 1917, the 54th Battalion took part in the advance which followed the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg line. Woodlands contracted trench foot while serving in the lines and spent several days in hospital recovering. He re-joined his unit at the end of April and shortly after was taken ill with a case of trench fever which necessitated a travelling to England to recover in hospital.

Woodlands wasn’t able to re-join his unit in the front lines until November 1917, when the allies were anticipating a major enemy offensive.

The collapse of the Russian monarchy in late 1917 released thousands of German soldiers from the fighting on the Eastern Front. In March of 1918, Germany launched their Spring Offensive, taking a chance to deliver a decisive blow to the allied forces while they held superiority in numbers. The 54th was moved to positions north of the French village of Villers-Bretonneux.

On 12 April the battalion were manning the lines north of the village. Their positions were gassed and shelled by the enemy. Machine-gun fire from German lines was relentless, causing many casualties. That evening, Private Woodlands left the trenches to fetch rations when a machine-gun opened fire, hitting him four times in the chest, and killing him instantly. He was 20 years old.

Woodland’s platoon sergeant wrote to Woodland’s mother to extend his sympathy:

“He is now at rest, taking his last long sleep… All his mates and the men in his platoon wish me to extend to you their deepest sympathy in your lonely need, and I ask you to accept the same from me.”

The chaplain who presided over the young private’s burial also wrote to Johanna Woodlands to comfort her in her grief:

“I am writing to convey to you the sympathy of the officers and men of your son’s battalion. We have lost a brave comrade and a good soldier, but you have lost a son … Keep your faith in God. Paradise is not so far away as we sometimes think. Your son has gone into Paradise after making a sacrifice very like his Lord’s. Your love and prayer can reach and help him there, and if you will allow it to be so, the link which once bound you to earth may bind you to Heaven. God bless you in this your share of sacrifice.”

Private James Woodlands was buried at Aubigny Military Cemetery, near where he fell.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private James Woodlands who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meghan Adams
Researcher, Australian War Memorial