James Woods enlisted on the 15th September 1914, giving his age as 34 years and 3 months but was actually 39 (he was born in Chorley in 1875).
He had previously served for six years with the 4th Volunteer Battalion, Loyal North Lancs. Regiment. James was discharged due to sickness on the 15th October 1915, being given the Silver War Badge number 4870. However, James was mobilized again on the 21st May 1917 into the Labour Corps as Private 204879, serving with the 362nd Reserve Employment Company from the 2nd June 1917 (possibly at a watch factory in Prescot) and then with the 558th (H.S.) Employment Company at Oswestry from the 8th October 1917. He was discharged from the Army at Prees Heath in Shropshire on the 11th December 1918 due to Chronic Bronchitis.
His service record for his time in the Labour Corps, now held in the National Archives, have been stamped “Deceased” although there is no record of his death. James gave his occupation as Driver (Horse) upon enlisting in 1914 but the 1911 Census had him as an “out of Work Cab Driver”. He was living at 23 Bengal Street in Chorley before the war and his service record in 1917 showed that his family had moved to number 40.
James married Sybil Ann Haydock at St. James’ Church in Chorley on the 5th September 1898, having six children; he worshipped at St. Laurence’s Church.
