George Vere Arundell Monckton-Arundell Galway was born on 24 March 1882. His parents were George Monckton-Arundell, 7th Viscount Galway and Vere Gosling. He had one sibling: Violet Frances Monckton-Arundell (14 May 1880 – 24 October 1930). He received his education at a preparatory school in Berkshire before attending Eton College (1895–1900) and Christ Church College, University of Oxford (1900–1904). He read Modern History and graduated with Bachelor or Arts and took the Master of Arts subsequently (this degree at Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin is an elevation in rank and not a postgraduate qualification).