Contributed by Ron Inglis, April 2022:
Brinley Pearce Woodland, born in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe, was a clerk with the NSW Department of Lands. He lived with his wife Gladys at Geurie, midway between Wellington and Dubbo in the Central West of NSW. His father, Alfred John Woodland, was a solicitor with the Sydney law firm of Stephen, Jacques and Stephen.
In addition to his education at Auburn Public School, Woodland’s education included Junior University 1909 and Commonwealth and State Public Service 1910. He also had considerable military experience having served in all ranks of the 39th Infantry, Auburn’s own militia unit and then was commissioned an officer in the 40th Infantry Battalion based in Burwood. Woodland was gazetted Second Lieutenant on 1 February 1916 and then called up for duty at the Liverpool camp on 4 October 1916. Three days later he embarked on the Ceramic, arriving in Plymouth, United Kingdom, on 21 November 1916.
Lieutenant Woodland crossed to France and was taken on strength of the 18th Battalion on 18 December 1916. Nine days later he was evacuated to hospital in Rouen then Le Havre suffering from Orchitis and VD. Woodland had 42 days VD period before returning to the 18th Battalion on 29 February 1917.
In the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt, May 1917, Woodland received a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was taken back to the Yorkhill War Hospital in Glasgow, UK. After two months recovery, Woodland returned to his battalion and at the end of September was promoted to Temporary Captain, commanding a company.
Captain Woodland was killed by shrapnel wounds to the head at 10am 9 October 1917 during the battle of Broodseide Ridge. He was originally buried in the Garter Point battlefield plot but as this cemetery was destroyed by subsequent shell fire, after the war, a Garter Point Memorial was set up in the Perth Cemetery (China Walls) south-east of Ypres in Belgium.
Gladys Woodland received an officer’s widow’s pension of £3-17-6 p.f. and for her husband’s gravestone she chose the inscription: NOBLE IN LIFE AND DEATH.
Brinley Woodland is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Lidcombe War Memorial
- St Stephens Anglican Church Lidcombe Memorial Plaques
- NSW Lands Dept First World War Honour Roll
- Auburn Boys Public School Great War Photographic Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra