John William Wood was born in Ararat, VIC and was a Bootmaker in Ballarat when he enlisted in the 39th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement on 15 May 1916 at the age of 23. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25 September 1916. 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 A29 Suevic on September 27th and reached Melbourne on November 18th 1917. He was discharged as medically unfit.

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