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Captain Woodward, 1st Australian Tunneling Company
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Captain Woodward, 1st Australian Tunneling Company
Captain Oliver Woodward was one of the heroes of the underground war at Hill 60. He had trained as a mining engineer and during his military career won the MC and two bars. He also was involved in the mining operations prior to the Battle of Messines and personally blew the Caterpillar Crater. This important personal diary was presented to the Cafe De Dreve Museum at Polygon Wod, by Captain Woodwards family. Date: 2016
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Media ID 23373010
© Holts Battlefield Collection / Mary Evans
2016 Australian Bars Blew Cafe Career Caterpillar Crater Diary Engineer Heroes Ieper Important Involved Messines Mining Oliver Operations Personal Personally Polygon Presented Prior This Trained Tunneling Underground Woodward Ypres
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the stoic determination of Captain Oliver Woodward, a hero of the underground war at Hill 60 during World War I. Woodward, a mining engineer by trade, served with the 1st Australian Tunneling Company. His military career was marked by exceptional bravery and dedication, earning him the Military Cross and two bars. Prior to the Battle of Messines in 1917, Woodward played a crucial role in the mining operations leading up to the explosion of the Caterpillar Crater, one of the most significant explosions of the war. The crater, measuring over 100 meters wide and 30 meters deep, was the result of 49 mines being detonated beneath the German lines, creating a massive crater and effectively disrupting their defenses. The importance of Captain Woodward's contributions to the war effort was recognized long after the conflict's end. In 2016, his personal diary from the war was presented to the Cafe De Dreve Museum at Polygon Wood in Ieper, Belgium. The diary offers a unique insight into the daily life and experiences of a tunneling officer during the war, providing valuable historical context for future generations. Captain Woodward's legacy as a pioneering mining engineer and a brave soldier continues to inspire and inform our understanding of the underground war at Hill 60 during World War I. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers like Woodward, whose courage and ingenuity played a vital role in the Allied victory in the Ypres Salient.
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