Born in Collarenebri, New South Wales, Wordsworth was educated at North Sydney Grammar School.

During World War I Wordsworth served at Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine between May 1915 and November 1917[2] and was mentioned in dispatches.

[2] Wordsworth served as Adjutant and later became a Squadron Commander within the regiment throughout the North West Frontier operations from 1930 to 1931.

Promoted Acting Major-General on 28 March 1942,[6] he was appointed commander of the 31st Indian Armoured Division in May 1942.

At that time, the British 10th Army was part Paiforce (formerly Iraqforce) under the Persia and Iraq Command.