William Maitland Woods

William Maitland Woods (4 January 1864 – 6 February 1927) was an Anglican clergyman and a military chaplain in Queensland, Australia.

Early life William Maitland Woods was born on 4 January 1864 in Mayfair, London, England, the son of Alfred Woods, master draper, and his wife Jane (née Damerel). He studied at the City of London School followed by St Mary Hall, Oxford University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1889.

While he served as a chaplain in the Queensland Land Forces in 1893, Woods is largely remembered for his services as chaplain during World War I. He transferred to the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915 and served at Gallipoli with the 2nd Brigade, then the 7th Light Horse Regiment. After evacuation to Egypt, Woods was appointed to the staff of Major General Harry Chauvel's ANZAC Mounted Division in July 1916, as Senior Chaplain. Despite his advancing age, he spent long months camped in the desert with the troops, as the campaign in defence of the Suez Canal unfolded, and the Sinai Peninsula and Palestine were retaken. Woods was remembered with affection by the men to whom he ministered as being compassionate, energetic and sure of his purpose.

Both men exchanged news of their families, in particular their sons, who were on active service. Wood's son, Francis Maitland Woods ("Young Mait") served much of the war alongside his father.

The State Library of Queensland holds the Maitland Woods Papers, which contain around 65 letters between Woods and Garland. The last letter in the collection is from Woods to Garland, dated 19 May 1926.