The following is a list with biographies of the 462 people who attended Malvern College and died due to the First World War. Altogether 2,833 are known to have served. There is also a corresponding page commemorating the 249 casualties in the Second World War.
There was not a month from August 1914 to November 1918 that an Old Malvernian did not become a casualty, with 6 killed on the first day of the Battle of Loos on the 25th September 1915 and 13 killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on the 1st July 1916.
The vast majority of casualties occurred in France and Belgium with 31 names recorded on the Menin Gate at Ypres, and 23 at Thiepval. There were also 23 casualties in Turkey due to the Gallipoli Campaign, and 16 in Iraq, including 2 near Kut.
They were in a wide range of regiments including 26 in the Royal Field Artillery, 13 in the Royal Engineers, 12 in the Worcestershire Regt, 11 in the Canadian Inf, 11 in the East Kent Regt (The Buffs), and 5 in the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force.
Most were officers with 133 Captains, 126 2nd Lieutenants, 114 Lieutenants, 26 Majors, and 15 Lieutenant Colonels.
29 received the MC, 10 the DSO and 1 the DCM, as well as 3 knighthoods (the CB, CMG, and MVO).
The information below is based primarily on the memorial books held at Malvern College which Ian Quickfall, and now Paul Godsland, the Malvernian Society archivists, have arranged to be digitised with the official memorial web site still in development.
Further information was also obtained from 'The Malvern College Register 1865-1924' edited by H.G.C Salmon, 'The Malvernian' school magazine, 'A History of Malvern College 1865 to 1965' by Ralph Blumenau, and 'Malvern College: A 150th Anniversary Portrait' by Roy Allen.
Information was also obtained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, the Unit War Diaries and Service Records held at the National Archives in Kew, and various online commemorative websites whose links have been provided.
The main battles have tried to be identified in which Old Malvernians died in. Many though were killed in the general attrition of Trench Warfare which is so vividly described in the book 'Nothing of Importance' by Bernard Adams.
Below is a map showing the locations of the 246 cemeteries where Old Malvernians are buried or commemorated in. The markers are coloured yellow for one casualty, orange for between 2 and 9, and red for 10 or more. The name of the cemetery and number of casualties can be seen by hovering over the marker, and the list of names seen by clicking on the marker. Their full biographies and pictures can be seen by clicking on 'Further Info'.
The records can be filtered and/or sorted by name, house, age, regiment, battle, date, place etc by clicking on the appropriate drop down box and then the 'Search' button below the map. The original memorial book entry can be seen by clicking on the person's picture.
Son of Brig. Gen. J. E. Caunter, C.B., C.B.E., and Mrs. Caunter, of "Elm Bank", St. Mary Church, Devon, b. 1897.
Upper IV—Army II. Shooting VIII; House XI Cricket.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; Welch Regt. 1914; Captain 1917; attached 60th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps.
Address: 26 Nicholas Street, Chester.
'Owing to the outbreak of war Caunter left School earlier than he had intended, passed through Sandhurst and joined his father's old Regiment—the Welch—at the end of 1914. After serving on the Eastern and Western fronts, he joined the Flying Corps, and had only been with them a short time when he was shot down, on October 25, 1917. At School he was a boy of more than average merit, a promising bowler and a good shot. These qualities he turned to good account in the war, showing considerable ability as a pilot and giving promise of greater things to come.' (Malvernian, Dec 1917).
Joined 1st Btn Welch Regiment in the field on 8/10/15.
Disembarked at Salonica via Marseilles & Alexandria on 27/11/15.
Embarked for Egypt on transfer to RFC at Salonica on 26/11/16.
Killed in action on Passchendaele Ridge.
Service record:WO 339/3550
Biography at oldashburton
Born 24th Dec 1876 at 158 Queen's road, Bayswater. Son of Dr. and Mrs H. Lawrence, Cheltenham and 'Rahere', Babbacombe, Devon.
Army Side. School Prefect. Shooting VIII; House XI Football.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; East Yorkshire Regt. 1898; Captain 1907; served with 5th Batt. Mounted Infantry in South African War 1902, Queen’s Medal with 3 Clasps.
Great War, 1st Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment; killed in action near Armentieres October 28, 1914; Despatches.
'From quite early days Bertram Lawrence showed special aptitude for the profession which he had chosen, and it was not difficult for those who knew him as a boy to forecast a successful career for him as an officer. He seemed to have then the true military instinct. What we have heard of him from time to time, since he got his commission, proves how fully early expectations have been realised. He did excellent work at the front up to the time of his being killed in action.' (Malvernian, Dec 1914).
He was shot by a sniper while cheering and leading his men to retake a lost trench.
Biography at IWM
Son of Colonel J. McCleverty, Greycourt, Fleet, Hants, b. 1882.
Army III—I. Lambert German. House Prefect. House XI Football.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; West Riding Regt. 1901; Indian Army (47th Sikhs) 1903; Captain 1910; South African War 1901-02, Queen's Medal with 5 Clasps.
Great War. Despatches.
'He was the third of four brothers here, all of whom later became members of the Indian Army. We print an extract from a letter written by his Commanding Officer, and it is sufficient to say of him that he died as he had lived—a soldier to the core and a type of all that is best in the British Officer. "He was killed in an attack on a village just after we had carried it with the bayonet. For the attack we were congratulated by Sir H. Smith-Dorrien for what he called 'magnificent behaviour'. Robert's leading all through was splendid, as cool as if engaged in manoeuvres, but inspiring all round him by his dash. He was killed close to me when leading the attack on through the village, killed instantaneously, shot through the head. I cannot express properly how all ranks in the Regiment grieve at his loss, the most popular of all and a splendid officer in every way."' (Malvernian, Dec 1914).