James Woods
James Woods enlisted on the 14th September 1914 and was promoted to Lance Corporal whilst with the Pals at Caernarvon on the 25th March 1915.
He did not go with the Pals to Egypt, being transferred to the 12th (Training) Battalion at Prees Heath in Shropshire. James received further promotions to Corporal on the 18th March and Acting Sergeant on the 19th April before re-joining the Pals in France in early June. He was wounded in the left knee sometime in September 1916 (possibly in front line trenches at Festubert), being eventually discharged from the Army due to his injuries on the 26th March 1917; he received a pension of 16 shillings per week.
James was born in Chorley in 1884 and was a Collier living at 196 Pall Mall in 1914; he attended Trinity Wesleyan Church in the town. He married Emily Baines at St. George’s Church in 1906, having two children; they eventually moved to 53 Cunliffe Street in Chorley.
After the war, James became a Driver for Smith’s Bakers; he died in November 1973.
Other Information:James is listed as ‘Wood’ on his birth entry, on the 1901 Census, his marriage entry in 1906 and on the 1911 Census, but ‘Woods’ at enlistment into the Pals in 1914.
