Edward Woodman was born in Hornsey, London on 19 October 1884. His father was a chartered accountant. He was at school in Barnet and later in Bromley before entering St Bartholomew's Hospital where he passed the MB BS with honours and distinction in 1908. He worked at the Institute of Pathology unde

Born 27 May 1881, he was educated at Bradfield College in Berkshire and later, at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Guy's Hospital. He played association football for Guy's and also ran in the mile. He qualified with the Conjoint Diploma in 1906 and spent several years in house appointments at Guy's.