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 the late Herbert Edward Bull (Brewer) and of Mabel Bull (formerly Bristow), of Castle House, Buckingham, b. 1894.
Lower IV—Army II. School Prefect. XXII Cricket and Football.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; Oxford and Bucks L.I. 1914; Lieutenant 1915, 2nd Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.
'On his captain being killed during an attack, he took command of his company, and was shot through the head on the edge of a German trench, near La Bassee. "Full of life and spirits, he was a popular boy who had many friends, and when placed in a responsible position showed some seriousness of purpose. He bade fair to do really well in his profession. Dis aliter visum (fate had other plans).' (Malvernian, Jun 1915).
Service record:WO 339/22611
Son of Mrs. Scott, b. 1891.
Lower IV—Army I. Senior Chapel Prefect. XI Football 1907- 09 (Captain); XI Cricket 1909,10. Cadet Officer.
Sugar Planter and Farmer.
Lieutenant 6th Batt. Worcestershire Regt. (T.F.) 1912.
Great War, mobilised 1914, Captain.
'He was killed near Ypres in a night attack while leading his men into action. A boy of singularly handsome appearance and charm of manner, he was one of the best known and most popular of later Malvernians. It is certain that he was equally popular in his Regiment, for his Sergeant writes: "If any man could give his life to fetch him back he would be back at once. There is no doubt he was one of the best, and that is not the opinion of his platoon but of the whole Battalion." A fine epitaph this! His simple, generous, loyal character gave him quite an extraordinary influence during his last year or two at School.' (Malvernian, Jun 1915).
.jpg "View original memorial book page")
Son of H. J. Wood, Rissington, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames. b. 1886.
Middle IV—Upper V. School Prefect. House XI Cricket and Football.
Brasenose College, Oxford; B.A. (Third Class Jurisprudence) 1907.
In business; Coffee Planter and Farmer in British East Africa.
Great War, Lieutenant King's African Rifles (German East Africa).
'Hubert Kenneth Wood, like his elder brother now serving as Captain in the A.S.C., was one of the many Malvernians whom Brasenose has been glad to welcome in the last twenty years. During his three years' residence he showed his energy in many ways. He played football (Association) and cricket for the College, rowed in the Second Torpid, and took Honours in the Law School. After leaving Oxford he went into business in the City, but the life did not suit him, and about five years ago he started coffee planting in British East Africa. He worked very hard at this and had been very successful. In July 1914 he came home, because he had suffered from fever and had been ordered by his doctor to remain out of the colony for six months. Nevertheless he returned shortly after the declaration of war, thinking it his duty to do so. He accepted a commission in the King's African Rifles, and went through all the earlier fighting in German East Africa, but from the un-healthiness of the country he again contracted fever, and was invalided to the Cape, where he remained in hospital for some months. As soon as he could obtain leave to do so, he started back to the front, and though, as he said in his last letter written at Dar-es-Salaam, the doctors were ordering him back to Nairobi, he persisted in applying for leave to re-join his men knowing that they were short of officers. This leave he must have succeeded in obtaining, for it is known that he died of malaria at Morogoro on May 16. His friends, while sorrowing deeply for his loss, will cherish the memory of the spirit in which he sacrificed his life.' (Oxford Magazine).