Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Edward Woodward, a farm labourer, born 1854 in Peckleton, Leicestershire and his wife Annie Elizabeth Woodward (nee Goddard, married on the 11th December 1883 in the Parish Church, Kirby Mallory, Leicestershire.), born 1858 in Thurnby, Leicestershire. William Edward was born on the 30th January 1888 in Desford, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 25th March 1888 in the Parish Church, Desford, his siblings were, Annie Eliza, a schoolgirl, born 1884 and was baptised on the 28th October 1884 in the Parish Church, Desford and Sidney Arthur, born 1889 and was baptised on the 24th November 1889 in the Parish Church, Desford, both his siblings were born in Desford, in April 1891 the family home was at Main Road, Desford. In March 1901 William was residing in the family home at Welford House, Desford, together with his father, an agricultural labourer, his mother and siblings, Sidney and Thomas Amias, born 1893 in Desford and baptised on the 15th October 1893 in the Parish Church, Desford. In April 1911 William was serving as a Police Constable and was residing as a boarder at 23, Magazine Square, Leicester. His father, a general labourer, his mother and brother Thomas were residing in the family home at Newtown Lane, Desford. On the 7th March 1914, William married Mary Jane Kilby in St. George’s Church, Whitwick, Leicestershire, Mary was born on the 13th December 1890 in Peggs Green, Leicestershire, the daughter of George and Fanny Kilby, she was baptised on the 14th February 1892 in the Parish Church, Worthington, Leicestershire. William and Mary had a son, George Edward, who was born in the 4th quarter of 1914 in Leicester, they resided at 117, Pool Road, Leicester.
William enlisted into the Royal Marine Artillery on the 7th April 1915 in Nottingham, and was allocated the service number 779. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10½ inches in height, his complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was lightish brown and he had grey eyes, he had no marks, wounds or scars. He gave his date and place of birth as the 30th January 1888 in Desford, Leicestershire, he gave his trade or calling as Police Constable with the Leicester Borough Police and his religion as Church of England. He gave his wife Jane of 30, Wolverton Road, Leicester 107, Pool Road, Leicester as his next of kin.
His period of service records:-
Royal Marine Artillery. Private. on the 7/4/15 to 18/7/15.
Royal Marine Artillery. Gunner 2nd Class. 19/7/15 to 4/11/15.
Royal Marine Artillery. Gunner. 5/11/15 to 29/11/15.
Royal Marine Artillery. Howitzer Brigade No.5. Gunner. 30/11/15 to 9/11/17.
Royal Marine Artillery. Howitzer Brigade No.5. Gunner. Killed in Action. 9/11/17.
He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.