Born in Collarenebri, New South Wales, Wordsworth was educated at North Sydney Grammar School. He was commissioned into the Australian Imperial Force on 27 August 1914[1] as an officer of 1st Light Horse Regiment.
During World War I Wordsworth served at Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine between May 1915 and November 1917[2] and was mentioned in dispatches.[3]
After transferring to the Indian Army on 3 November 1917, he was appointed to the 16th Cavalry on 7 November 1917.[4] He went on to serve in Waziristan between 1919 and 1921 with his regiment[2] which was amalgamated with the 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers in June 1921 to form the 13/16th Cavalry which itself was renamed the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers in July 1922.[2]
Wordsworth served as Adjutant and later became a Squadron Commander within the regiment throughout the North West Frontier operations from 1930 to 1931.[5] He was appointed commanding officer of the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers on 11 June 1939.[1]
Wordsworth also served in World War II. In July 1940 he was appointed commander of the 1st Indian Armoured Brigade, which was renamed 251st Indian Armoured Brigade in October 1941, as part of 1st Indian Armoured Division, later renamed 31st Indian Armoured Division. Promoted Acting Major-General on 28 March 1942,[6] he was appointed commander of the 31st Indian Armoured Division in May 1942. As part of the British 10th Army, his division was stationed in Persia in 1942. At that time, the British 10th Army was part Paiforce (formerly Iraqforce) under the Persia and Iraq Command.