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.
.jpg "View original memorial book page")
Son of Marie Emily Cassidy, of Johannesburg, and the late Arthur Ardagh Cassidy, 55 Charlton Road, Blackheath. b. 1890.
Upper IV—Science Form. House Prefect. Gymnasium Colours; House XI Cricket and Football.
Formerly in business in Vancouver, then in South Africa.
Great War, Private South African Forces (German S.W. Africa); Lieutenant (E. Africa). 8th Regt. South African Infantry formerly Transvaal Scottish, S.A. Forces
Commissioned Aug., 1915. Twice previously wounded.
'Ardagh Cassidy brought with him from South Africa an ease of manner and conversation that made him a cheerful companion. He was a boy of great activity and was particularly prominent in the Gymnasium. In this war he served first as a Private in the German West African Campaign, during which he was twice slightly wounded. When that was over, he trained for a commission and was sent to German East Africa, where he contracted dysentery and was invalided from January to May 1917. After the battle in the following July he was seen to be wounded and walking back to the dressing station. No further details have come to hand.' (Malvernian, Nov 1918)
Son of William G. and Clara Quihampton, of Wood Cottage, Nutfield, Surrey, b. 1886.
Middle IV B—Upper IV C.
Formerly in British Columbia; later Farmer in Canada.
Great War, Private, 54th Bn. Australian Infantry. 1914.
'He was the younger of two brothers in No. 3. As a New Boy he was remarkable for his very large size, and he rejoiced in the name of "Jumbo." His extreme good-nature made him a most popular boy. On leaving school he went out to farm in British Columbia, and moved into Canada later on. When war broke out he answered the call of his country, and served as a Private in the Australian Imperial Force. He was killed in action in July 1917.' (Malvernian, Jun 1918).
Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 19/20 July 1916.
Letter from 4310 R.O. SAMUELS, to Mrs Quihampton, 14 August 1916: 'As I am the other remaining friend of your son, W. Quihampton, it is my duty to write you a short letter. The day after we embarked in Sydney he gave me your address and told me that if anything should ever happen [to] him to write to you and tell you that he had done his best for home and country and now, Mrs. Quihampton, it has fallen to my lot to send this this cruel news, but you must be brave and, besides, it was God's will so we must not complain, and there are thousands of other mothers who have to mourn the loss of their dear ones, but I can feel for you, Madam, because I lost my brother in the same charge and I have to send the cruel news to my dear mother, but you know when we enlist we know that we can't all go home again, some of us must give our lives. Your boy was my best chum and I know I will never get another friend like him in this world, he was in every sense of the word a pure man. There is a possibility of your son coming to light again, but I feel sure he was killed. I can give you no hope, so, dear Mrs. Quihampton, do be brave and don't cry; you son was a brave, good man.'
Biography at AIF including further letter to his mother