Jimmy Woods was born in South Australia and raised by a stepsister after his parents' death. He tried to enlist in the AIF but was rejected as too short. Eventually accepted in Western Australia in September 1916, he reached France a year later.

Woods displayed great bravery in one of his battalion's last actions of the war on 18 September 1918 near Le Verguier. With a small patrol he captured a German post, then defended it against several counter-attacks by jumping onto the parapet and throwing bombs handed to him by his companions. He "displayed a splendid example of valour, determination and initiative".

Returning to Australia, Woods took up a small vineyard and orchard in the west. Plagued by ill health from his war service, he died in 1963. His eldest son, Pilot Officer Gordon Woods, was killed in flight training with the RAAF in 1943 and is commemorated on the Memorial's Roll of Honour.

Woods received the Victoria Cross, service medals for the First World War and coronation medals for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.