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 23 August 1881 at West Bromwich, Staffordshire, son of James Roberts, engineer and ironfounder, and Mary Jane Helme, his wife. His father was managing director of J and S Roberts, ironfounders of Swan Village. He was educated at King Edward VI School, Birmingham, and at St Bartholomew's Hospita