Oliver Woodward was born 8 October 1885, the son of Sydney Arthur Woodward and Jemima Johnstone Reid. In 1920 he married Marjorie Moffat Waddell, they had two sons and one daughter. Woodward died 24 August 1966. He joined the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company, Australia Imperial Force, in 1915, and was made Captain in 1916 (he was mentioned in despatches, received the Military Cross in 1916 and two bars in 1918). He was Plant Superintendent at Broken Hill Associated Smelters Ltd, 1920-1926 and General Superintendent 1926-1934. He was then General Manager of North Broken Hill Ltd, 1934-1947, and on the Board of Directors from 1944 until his retirement. Woodward was President of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 1940 and President of the Australian Mines and Metals Association 1952-1954– Woodward contributed to various metallurgy and mining journals. He wrote his memoirs "My Story of the Great War 1916-18".