| Regimental number | 6/575 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Temuka |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Address | c/o J Brown, Temuka |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 23 |
| Height | 5' 4" |
| Weight | 138 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, M J Woodhead, Temuka |
| Previous military service | Served in 2nd (South Canterbury) Regiment, Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Timaru |
| Rank on embarkation | Private |
| Enlistment status | Volunteer |
| Unit name | New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Canterbury Infantry Battalion |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Wellington on |
| The Canterbury Infantry Battalion, Main Body, left New Zealand on board two ships, 'Tahiti' and 'Athenic'. It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Final rank | Company Sergeant Major |
| Final unit | New Zealand Machine Gun Corps |
| Fate | Died of wounds |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 25 |
| Place of burial | Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (Plot XXVII, Row D, Grave No 8), nr Ieper, Belgium |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Father: John Woodhead, Middle Swamp Road, Temuka |
| Medals |
Military Medal 'Action: Flers Trench, Flers Support and Goose Alley: West of Flers, 21st September 1916. When the 2nd Canterbury Batt. were counter attacked on the afternoon of the 21st, Lance Corporal Woodhead was in command of a machine gun detachment in Flers Support Trench. When he saw that his right flank was in danger of being driven back, and that the position covered by his gun was not being attacked, he quickly (and without orders from a superior authority) shifted his gun to the parapet, at great risk to his own personal safety from enemy snipers, and enfiladed the trench along which the enemy was working. He inflicted heavy
loss on the enemy and held them back while the bombers reorganised and obtained further supplies. His quick action stopped the advancing enemy and was the turning point in the situation on the right.'
Source: London Gazette Date: |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front War service: 3 years 118 days (of which 1151 days were abroad) Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | Nominal Roll Vol. 1: Canterbury Infantry Batln/Main Body |
| Sources | Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 22025037 |