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 Maj. H. R. and Mrs. Hildyard, of Hythe, Kent. b. 4th August 1897.
Lower IV—Army II.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; Royal Lancaster Regt. 1916.
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).
'He was a boy of very decided character, full of cheeriness and fun, and a great authority on School form and custom. None will forget his courage, either moral or physical; his excitement at the outbreak of war to join up at once; or his chagrin when told that his age and size were against him. He was a fine character, whose gallant death all his contemporaries will mourn. He entered Sandhurst soon after leaving School, and was gazetted to the Royal Lancaster Regiment last April, proceeding to the front in July. He was killed on Dec. 20th, two days after re-joining his regiment from leave.' (Malvernian, Mar 1917).
He was gazetted 2nd Lieut, 6 April, 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the following July: was Battalion Signalling Officer, and was killed in action the day after returning from leave, 20 Dec. 1916, during the operations on the Somme. Buried in the French Officers' Cemetery at Maricourt. (De Ruvigny).
Memorial stained glass window at St Leonard's Church, Hythe
Service record:WO 339/59410
Son of J. A. Sisson, 4 Fenham Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne. b. 1895.
Middle Shell—Matriculation Class.
Great War, 2nd Lieutenant R.G.A. 1914, Lieutenant.
'The youngest of three brothers in the same House, George Sisson will be widely remembered for his unfailing good nature, and the kindness and straightness of his character. He attained to no high distinction while at School, but his influence was strong, and his devotion to his School unequivocal. He was entered for Clare College, Cambridge, but never went into residence, as he obtained a commission in October 1914, and joined the Expeditionary Force in France in September of the next year. He took part in much active service on the Western front, and was invalided home in October 1916. He returned in July 1917, and he was wounded and taken prisoner in November. He was reported to have died of his wounds on December 20th.' (Malvernian, Mar 1918).
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Son of Brevet Lt. Col. Henry Attenberrow Yates (3rd Madras Cavalry), and his wife Sophia Louisa Tertia Phillips, 7 Prestonville Road, Brighton, b. 1878.
Army Side. House Scholar. House XI Cricket and Football.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; Indian Army 1897; Captain (4th Gurkhas) 1906.
Great War. "E" Coy. 1st Bn. 4th Gurkha Rifles
'R. C. B. Yates was one of the earliest boys in No. 7 soon after it was started. He was a House Scholar. Though not prominent as an athlete, he was a member of the House Cricket and Football teams. He was on the Army Side and eventually joined the Indian Army in 1897. He was reported "missing" after action on Dec. 20th, 1914, and is now reported "killed".' (Malvernian, Nov 1916).
'Festubert. Dec 20th. At 9.30am we were informed that the Germans had broken the line in two places, and we ordered to march straight to Givenchy, and take up a line along the Festubert-PontFixe road. The trenches were full of mud and water with the Gurkhas up to their armpits.' (Unit War Diary).
Unit War Diary:WO 95/3929/4