Born in Glendale district, Northumberland as the youngest son of Matthew Tennat Culley and Eleanor Culley (the only child of his second marriage) of Coupland Castle, Northumberland
He was educated at Cheltenham 1897 - 1901
Joined the Durham Militia 20 April 1907
Married Elizabeth Francis Twynam 16 April 1914 at St Peter's Soberton, where he is listed as a Captain in the Durham Militia, and was living in Semley, Wiltshire, where they moved after marrying.
His eldest son (George William) was born in 1915 in Semley.
He enlisted to 9th Bn. Scottish Riffles, joining the front line in France 12th May 1915 before being seriously wounded in September 1915. He returned to the front in June 1916 with Royal West Kent Regiment. He died shortly afterwards at the Somme, serving as a Captain with 11th battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). He is buried at Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, France.

From CWGC: Son of Matthew T. and Eleanor Culley, of Coupland Castle, Northumberland; husband of Elizabeth Francis Culley, of Corscombe, Dorset.

His younger son (Geoffrey Matthew) was born 27th September, days after he was killed. On his baptismal record (26th Oct 1916) Geoffry is listed as an Army Officer, but not as deceased, so the family may have not known at the time.

Both his sons were killed in WWII. Geoffrey was killed in Libya in1942 - CWGC - and 3 years later his older son George was also killed in Germany - see CWGC

Geoffry is the "son in Law" of the Twynams mentioned on the plaque inside the church commemorating the deaths of the Twynams during WWI.