William Culley (27)
- Family History
- Military History
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William John Culley was the son of William and Maud Culley and the brother of Hilda Lilian and Edith May Culley. In 1921 they lived at 14, Howard Street, Nottingham. During the Spring of 1938, William John married Lily Wheat, who worked as a silk finisher, at Nottingham and they lived at 21, Primula Terrace, Windmill Lane, Sneinton, Nottingham. Lily married Horace Wakefield at Nottingham in 1952.
Nottingham’s heaviest loss of life at a single location during May 9th 1941’s air raid occurred within the Co-op Bakery on Meadow Lane where 49 night shift workers perished. The bakery was hit twice; one bomb caused tons of flour stored on upper floors to crash down to ground level. A second device penetrated the bakery’s air raid shelter roof before exploding amongst the assembled work force. Rescue efforts were impeded by blazing fat. For an excellent account of this incident, see David Needham, Battle of the Flames, Nottingham’s Fight for Survival in WWII (2nd Ed. Chesterfield: Banister Publications Ltd, 2020 p.p. 141-142. First Ed. Horizon Press, 2009).
Nottingham Evening Post, Deaths, Monday May 12th 1941: CULLEY – In May, William, beloved husband of Lily, killed by enemy action. Carlton 12.30 Wednesday. – Broken hearted wife. CULLEY – William through enemy action aged 27 years. At rest – broken hearted mother, father and Olive. Nottingham Evening Post, 9/5/1942, Page 2, In Memoriam: CULLEY – William through enemy action one year today. Many a lonely heartache, often a silent tear, but only a beautiful memory of one I loved so dear. – Loving wife Lily. CULLEY – William, only son, killed by enemy action. Oh for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that’s still. – In memory’s garden – Mam and dad. CULLEY – William, killed through enemy action. Loved and remembered always – sister Olive.
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