John William Culley
He was educated Mundella School Meadows Nottingham.
1911 - office boy (lace warehouse).
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John William was the son of John Henry and Emily Whitby Culley (née Beardsley).
His father was born in Nottingham in 1867 and his mother in Derby in 1869, the daughter of John Joseph and Elizabeth Beardsley. Her family later moved from Derby to Nottingham, and John and Emily were married in Nottingham in 1894 (AMJ).
The couple had four children, one of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children, who were born in Nottingham, were John William b. 1894 (OND), Doris Elizabeth b. 1900 (OND) and Leslie b. 1906 (JAS).
John, a coach fitter (coach and motor company), his wife and their two children, John and Doris, were living at 23 Wilson Place, Woolpack Lane, Nottingham, in 1901. They were at the same address in 1911 but only their two sons, John, an office boy (lace warehouse), and Leslie (4) were in the home on the night of the census. Their daughter, Doris (10), was recorded at 21 Wilson Place, Woolpack Lane, in the home of her maternal grandparents, John and Elizabeth Beardsley.
Elizabeth Beardsley died in February 1912 and John Joseph Beardsley in September 1928.
John and Emily were living at 26 Lenton Boulevard when their son John was killed in 1916 and were still at the same address in 1921. Also in the home were their two surviving children, Doris a part-time shorthand typist/clerk (Geo. Wigley & Sons, Warser Gate), and Leslie, a clerk (lace warehouse).
Doris married Kenneth Leslie King in 1927. Her husband had served in the RAF, joining on 21 October 1918 as an aircraft hand (civilian occupation engineer), shortly before the Armistice, and was discharged in January 1919. He had no RAF Reserve commitment, 'services not required'. In 1939 the couple were living at Ledbury Vale, Nottingham. Doris died aged 45 in 1945 (OND). Kenneth died in 1979 (reg. JFM Nottingham).
Her brother Leslie married Elizabeth Constance Simpson, daughter of Joseph Simpson, a grocer, at Lenton Parish Church in Sepember 1929. A notice of the marriage in a local newspaper gave his parents address as Mapperley; the marriage certificate gave Leslie's addresss as Hillcrest, Rowland Avenue, Kenrick Road [Mapperley]. Leslie and Elizabeth had at least two children, John D. b. 1930 and Donald b. 1936. In 1939 Leslie, a bank manager and also a special constable (Sutton in Ashfield), was recorded on the England & Wales Register at Kirkby Folly Road, Sutton in Ashfield. The records of three other members of the household remain closed but were probably those of his wife and two sons. It is likely that Leslie died at the age of 43 in June 1950 (reg. Nottingham AMJ).
His parents, John and Emily were still living at Hillcrest, Rowland Avenue, in 1939. Emily died on 13 March 1945, only months before the death of her only daughter. Probate was awarded to her son, Leslie. It is likely that her husband, John Henry, died at Hawtonville Hospital, Bowbridge Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire, in March 1955; probate was awarded to the hospital secretary. The registration of his death (JFM Newark) gave his age as 87.
John William enlisted in Nottingham and was initially posted to the Notts & Derby Regiment ( 17478 Private). He later served with the 10th (Service) Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. The Battalion was raised in Grimsby in September 1914 under the Kitchener scheme. Known as 'The Grimsby Chums', it was one of the 'Pals' battalions although the only one called 'Chums'.
John William was killed in action on 1 July 1916 and is buried in Ovillers Military Cemetery, grave ref. IV.D.2. The history of the cemetery indicates that his grave was brought in after the Armistice.
CWGC history of Ovillers Military Cemetery (extract): The village ofOvillers is about 5km from the town of Albert. 'On 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the 8th Division attacked Ovillers and the 34th Division La Boisselle. The villages were not captured, but ground was won between them and to the south of La Boisselle. On 4 July, the 19th (Western) Division cleared La Boisselle and on 7 July the 12th (Eastern) and 25th Divisions gained part of Ovillers, the village being cleared by the 48th (South Midland) Division on 17 July ... Ovillers Military Cemetery was begun before the capture of Ovillers, as a battle cemetery behind a dressing station. It was used until March 1917, by which time it contained 143 graves, about half the present Plot I. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when Commonwealth and French graves where brought in, mainly from the battlefields of Pozieres, Ovillers, La Boisselle and Contalmaison, and from two cemeteries. Mash Valley Cemetery and Red Dragon Cemetery, both in Ovillers-La Boiselle.' (www.cwgc.org)
WMR 21919. A Roll of Honour (a leather bound book) commemorating the 10th (Service) Battalion (Grimsby) is held in Grimsby St James, Humberside DN31 1JR. Names include John William Culley.
Nottingham General Cemetery. Family grave, headstone inscription:’ In loving memory of Elizabeth the beloved wife of John Joseph Beardsley who departed this life February 5th 1912 age (-) years. Faithful wife, a loving mother and kind friend. Also of John Joseph beloved husband of the above who died September 4th 1928 aged 85 years. At rest. Also in proud and loving memory of John William Culley, grandson of the above, killed in action July 1st 1916, aged 21 years. Duty nobly done.’
CWGC Additional information: Son of John Henry and Emily Culley, of 26, Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Duty nobly done'
Mundella Magazine, Christmas 1918, ROH: 'Culley, John W, Lincolns'
Nottingham Evenng Post, 13 July 1916. This report does not identify the writer but it is possible that the fellow soldier, Culley, whom he mentions is John William Culley. ‘Twice Hit. Nottingham Man’s Experience of Recent Battles. A Nottingham soldier wounded in the recent severe fighting and now in hospital in this country writes to his employer that the reception accorded to the returned heroes was magnificent. He proceeds: …. Our battalion were in the first waves and the boys advanced as if they were just having a field day although the air was thick with lead. I got nearly to the German second line trenches, when I got a bullet clean through my right calf. I crawled to a small shell hole, and lay down … I lay there for 14 hours [there follows a description of crawling back to the British lines and transfer to a Casualty Clearing Station] … I saw George Lumb – he was wounded in the leg, I think, but I don’t know how Culley fared. I am very anxious as regards my brother. I have not heard any news of him since.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 July 1916: ‘Culley. Killed in action, July 1st, Private JW Culley, aged 21 years, Lincolns. One of the brave lads who joined the Nottingham City Battalion. Greater love hath no man. From his sorrowing father, mother, sister, brothers, and Nancy.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 31 July 1916, Photograph with caption: ‘Private J Culley, Lincolns, 26, Lenton Boulevard, killed in action July 1st, aged 21.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father was his legatee.
Additional research, record updated (RF, Aug. 2026)
John William Culley
Grave in Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Photograph courtesy of Murray Biddle.
Photo of John William Culley
Nottingham Evening Post, 31 July 1916. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Photo of John William Culley
Ovillers Military Cemetery (www.cwgc.org)
Photo of John William Culley
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (August 2026).
Photo of John William Culley
nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (August 2026).