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 Michael Longridge, Linkvretten, Bowdon, Cheshire, b. 1880.
Shell—Remove. School Prefect. House XI Football.
Trinity College, Cambridge; B.A. 1905; ordained 1906; Curate of St. John, Bethnal Green, 1906; Elland 1907; St. Peter, Coventry, 1908; St. James, Exeter, 1909; Clyst St. George 1911.
Great War, C.F. (overseas). Army Chaplains' Department. Died at Topsham of gas poisoning, October 12, 1918.
Husband of Constance Longridge, of 2, Clystlands, Topsham.
'If, intellectually, less prominent than his elder brothers, Archie Longridge was a boy of more than average ability, to which, perhaps, he hardly did justice at School. He impressed himself chiefly upon those who knew him best by his charm of spontaneity, the expression of a nature which responded quickly to environment. Though he wavered in the choice of a profession, in his final decision to take Holy Orders he followed the ideal of social service, which had been the main purpose of his boyhood. He was full of ideas, and in his clerical work developed considerable literary power. He offered himself as a Chaplain for service in the war, and was for two years and a half in France, and afterwards, when invalided home, for nearly a year at Grantham. While on leave at Topsham he contracted influenza, and died, on October I2th, of pneumonia, rendered fatal by the effects of German gas.' (Malvernian, Feb 1919).
Western Times, 15 October 1918:
"Death of the Rev. A. O. C. Longridge, M.A., at Topsham. It is with regret we announce the death of Rev. A. O. C. Longridge, M.A., formerly Assistant Diocesan Missioner for Exeter, and at the same time curate of Clyst St. George, near Topsham. In May, 1915, he went to France as chaplain, and served there two and a half years. Being gassed, he was invalided home at the beginning of the year. He subsequently became chaplain to the R.A.F. at Grantham. He came home recently to visit his wife and family at Topsham, Mrs. Longridge being down with influenza. The rev. gentleman contracted influenza while on the visit, and pneumonia supervening, he succumbed, at the age of 38 years."
Lives of the First World War
.jpg "View original memorial book page")
Son of Thomas Walker, (Barrister-at-Law) and Mrs. M.H. Walker, of 1, Chester Gate, Regent's Park, London and Creig-ny-gaie, Lewaigne, Isle of Man. b. 1893.
Lower IV—Modern III.
Aspatria Agricultural College.
Farmer in Canada.
Great War, Trooper King Edward's Horse 1914; 2nd Lieutenant 2nd Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment.
Despatches.
'By his generation here, he will be remembered as an ardent naturalist. He went from School to Aspatria Agricultural College, and then joined his brother Jocelyn for a few years in Canada, returning to England in 1914. He enlisted within the first week of war in the 2nd King Edward's Horse, and was commissioned in the Special Reserve of Officers in January, 1915, and attached to the Bedfordshire Regiment. He proceeded to the front with his battalion in October, and obtained a permanent commission in August 1916. He was killed in an attack on October 12th, and his Captain writes: "We had just entered a trench, and your son had done, as usual, magnificently. He was absolutely unselfish and very brave, and had several times been recommended for his bravery and good works."' (Malvernian, Dec 1916).
The commanding officer further wrote 'During the attack we were held up by their machine guns, and your son at once got hold of a rifle and began firing at the Germans, who were about 100 yards from us. He was marked down and shot through the head, and I am so thankful to tell you that death was instantaneous. He has several times been recommended for his bravery and good work.” He was mentioned In Despatches [London Gazette, 4 Jan. 1917] by Genera Sir Douglas Haig, for gallant and distinguished service in the field' (De Ruvigny).