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 E. Oudin. b. 1891.
Upper IV A—Matriculation Class. House Prefect. Ledbury Cap.
Great War, Private Royal Fusiliers 1914; Captain Duke of Cornwall's L.I.
'At School he was a keen runner, a singer of some promise, and a boy of blameless character. He "came on" considerably during his last year, and it is no surprise to those who knew him that his record in the service is so distinguished.' (Malvernian, Nov 1916).
The Times: "Captain Oudin enlisted in the 2nd (City of London) Royal Fusiliers on August 5, 1914, and went to Malta with the regiment, returning in December to take up his commission. He went to the front in July 1915, and was decorated with the Military Cross for a conspicuous act of gallantry. The official report stated that when cut off in a bombing post with a machine-gun and a few men, he held his own under a very heavy bombardment, and, when attacked, successfully repelled the enemy. He received his Captaincy in July. He was killed in action on August 24th."
.jpg "View original memorial book page")
Born 10th October 1872. Son of Robert James and Louisa Mary Strafford (nee Belcher), of St Michael's Hamlet, Liverpool.
Junior School—Army Class. School Prefect. XI Football
1889,90; XXII Cricket.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; Duke of Wellington’s Regt. 1892; Major 1909;
South African War 1899—1902, Despatches (twice), Queen’s Medal with
4 Clasps, King’s Medal with 2 Clasps.
Great War,2nd Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). Killed in action near
Mons, August 24, 1914; Despatches.
Husband of Edith Mabel Strafford (nee Chapman), of 25, Wilbury Rd., Hove, Brighton. (Married 26th June 1906).
He had two children: Jennie Constance, born 28th June 1907; and Orrell Hamilton, born 13th July 1910.
'He was killed instantaneously by a shell at the battle of Mons, being one of the first O.Ms. to fall in the present war.
Masters and contemporaries will remember him as a brilliant back at football. He won the esteem of all and the affection of many by his single-mindedness, uprightness, and sympathetic character both at school and in his regiment, where he is mourned as one of its most capable officers.
He was mentioned in the despatches of Sir John French of Oct. 19th. ' (Malvernian, Nov 1914)
Service record:WO 374/65967
Unit War Diary:WO 95/1552/1