James Culley

James Culley also known as James Blake served during the whole Crimean campaign, being at Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman and taking part in the siege of Sebastopol. As a private in the Scotch Fusiliers, Blake was an eye witness to the famous Charge of the Light Brigade. After being wounded he was repatriated to England where he soon recovered. He tried to return to the war but was turned down twice. When he applied again under the name of James Culley he was accepted and sent out to serve with British forces in India and thereafter to New Zealand as part of the Police force. He ended up farming at Papatawa near Woodville, and although never married reputedly had descendants. He died aged 75 and his funeral procession went through the main street of Woodville on 18 September 1907.

Woodville Pioneer Museum