Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of the lateThomas Woods and his widow Lydia Woods, born 1854 in Plymouth, Devon. John William Ernest was born in 1895 in Ranikhet, India, his siblings were, Albert Wilfrid, a domestic gardener, born 1887 in Lucknow, India, Thomas W., born 1889, Stephen Edward, born 1896 and Blanche Mary, born 1899, the latter two siblings were both born in Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at 6, Birmingham Row, Melton Mowbray, Leics. In April 1911 John was absent from the family home at 6, Birmingham Row, Melton Mowbray, Leics., residing there was his widowed mother and siblings, Robert Aurten, an iron worker, born 1881 in Nusperabad, India, Albert, an iron worker, Stephen Edward, an iron worker and Blanche, a schoolgirl. John enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps in Boy Service on the 28th November 1909, aged 14, and was allocated the service number 125062. His medical examination recorded that he was 4 foot 11¾ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of 28 inches, his complexion was described as fresh and his hair colour was brown, he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had a scar on his left eyebrow. He gave his place of birth as Ranakeryt (Ranikhet), India, his trade or calling as mender and his religion as Church of England. He gave his mother, Lydia Woods of 6, Birmingham Row, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. His record of service began when he joined as an Aircraftsman II on the 24/1/18. Posted to France, 19/2/18 – 3/3/19. Transferred as Private II into the newly formed Royal Air Force on the 1/4/18. Reclassified as Aircraftsman I on the 1/9/18. Admitted to the 5th Northern General Hospital, Leicester on the 3/2/19. Died on the 6/2/19.