John Woods

John Thomas Woods was born on 12th July 1869 in Kensington London. He joined the Royal Navy and had just turned 23 years old when he married Lydia Wild from Notting Hill on 17th July 1892. The couple’s first child Beatrice Victoria was born in 1897, before son John Thomas arrived at Gillingham in 1901.

John gave sixteen years’ service to the Royal Navy before he enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry Chatham Division on 9th February 1904 aged 34. He was immediately posted to HMS Jupiter along with his Bombardon and Viola… the Jupiter was a battleship commissioned in 1897 and assigned to the Channel Fleet, John served on the ship until December, before returning to Chatham then moving back to the Royal Naval School of Music at Eastney.. he wasn’t assigned to another ship. On New Year’s Day 1907, Musician Woods was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

In 1911, the family was resident at 54 Tokar Street, a terraced property opposite Eastney Barracks, before later moving around the corner to 79 Adair Rd. Young John was later employed as a Coppersmith on Shipbuilding Repairers at HM Dockyard in Portsmouth.

John T Woods sadly passed away on 3rd September 1919 aged 50 as a result of an unknown disease, his devoted wife Lydia died on 22nd May 1953 at the age of 85 years. Their grave which is also the resting place of their daughter is situated in Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth. J. 19. 61.

RIP John

Paul Foley