John William Wood (SN 2177) was 23 years of age, a boot maker from Hotham Street, Ballarat when he enlisted on May 15th 1916. He trained at Ballarat before embarking on the Shropshire on September 26th. In January 1917 he joined the 39th Battalion in France and on April 30th he was wounded in action. He was evacuated to the London General Hospital for treatment for a gunshot wound to the head. It was determined that he should return to Australia, and he embarked on the Suevic on September 27th and reached Melbourne on November 18th 1917. He was discharged as ‘medically unfit’.
He died at Ballarat in November 1956 aged 64.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as John W. Woods.