69, Major Harrold Eustace Woodman DSO
4th Battalion AIF
Awarded Mention in Despatches – 2nd Jan 1917
Awarded Mention in Despatches – 1st Jun 1917
Awarded Distinguished Service Order – 18th June 1917
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He prepared strong defences in carefully chosen positions, and not only he, but all his officers and men, knew the ground thoroughly as the result of well organized reconnaissances. At an early stage of the action he counter attacked a large force of the enemy, and succeeded in holding up their advance until reinforcements arrived. He was largely responsible for saving a critical situation.’
Awarded Mention in Despatches – 28th Dec 1917
The AIF Project :-
Brother: 22187 Driver Keith Roy WOODMAN, 1st Divisional Signal Company, returned to Australia, 13 July 1919.
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National Archive – Service Record
Further Reading – 4th Battalion
Picture Source – Mapping Our Anzacs
Harrold Woodman lived in New Guinea from 1925 & served the administration as assistant Patrol Officer until 1940 when he was recalled to Militaru Service as Lt. Colonel in WW2. Due to his age he was retired & went back to New Guinea in 1945 as District Officer, Madang. Harrold was a philatelist & responsible for supervising First Flight Covers from his various postings in New Guinea, & sending many letters with beautiful New Guinea stamps before 1940. He passes away on 21st May,1974 aged 82 & was burried in St Mary’s Cemetry on Great Western Highway near Penrith NSW.
Harrold Woodman was prospecting for gold in New Guinea, then invited to join the Administration as Assistant Patrol Officer. He served at many places throughout New Guinea from 1926 to 1940 when he re-enlisted in the Australian Army. After WW2 he was District Officer for the Madang district before retiring to Penrith NSW. He was 78 years, & died 21st May,1974 & is buried at St.Marys cemetry, west of Sydney.
In 1944 Harrold stood for the seat of Willoughby in the NSW State election as a DLP member. He was defeated by the sitting member, George Brain.
He returned to New Guinea as District Officer for the Madang District until his retirement, when he came to Sydney & purchased a property at Penrith.
For 3 years from 1954 he was elected as a counsellor in Ward 1 at Penrith Council.