Jim Woodards: a bus driver goes to war
Introduction
James Woodards, known as Jim, was a 28-year old bus driver with the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) when the First World War broke out in August 1914. Originally from Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, he lived in north London with his wife and was based at Cricklewood garage.
Despite performing a role that was important in keeping London moving in wartime, Jim felt compelled to join the British Army. But unlike most men joining up, he was able to offer his civilian skills for military benefit.
Jim left his wife and new-born son to volunteer to drive lorries for the Army Service Corps (ASC) in northern France. Here we explore Jim’s story through a number of his personal items on display in the London’s Transport at War Gallery.
Jim had joined the LGOC in 1912. This miniature ornamental photograph frame contains a portrait of Jim wearing his LGOC uniform, with the cap and collars bearing the title ‘General’. In deciding to volunteer for the Army, Jim effectively left his LGOC job. While he was later to return to bus driving, this represented an interruption in his employment.
Jim is shown in this photograph in his Army uniform, standing alongside his wife Solange and baby son Norman. Jim and Solange had married in 1912 and lived with Solange’s parents at 369 Seven Sisters Road. Jim volunteered for the Army in 1915, the same year his son was born, and was soon driving lorries in northern France.
This keepsake in the shape of an Army cap, containing a tiny portrait of Jim, was kept by Solange Woodards while her husband was away. Leave from military service was relatively infrequent, so Jim missed much of his baby son’s early years.
Jim served with 319 Motor Transport Company of the Army Service Corps. This postcard shows him standing first on the right with his comrades. Jim’s unit was first formed in March 1915 as the 1st Heavy Repair Shop, providing mechanical engineering support behind the lines on the Western Front.
Jim was awarded the Military Medal, a decoration for bravery under fire, in 1918. This demonstrated that while he was in a non-combat role driving lorries, he still came under fire. Jim was also awarded the 1914-15 Star for serving in the Army from 1915 and the War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service.
After being demobilised, Jim returned to civilian bus driving. He received fifteen safe-driving awards between 1931 and 1950, wearing this driver’s licence badge. Jim retired on 4 December 1951, when he was based at Tottenham garage. But despite his long service, he was not entitled to a pension or gratuity from London Transport, partly due to the interruption in continuous service caused by his voluntary enlistment in the Army.
Many of the stories and objects here can be seen within the London’s transport at war gallery at the Museum.
