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 John Hamilton Gair and Martha Grace Gair, Skelwith
Bridge, Ambleside. b 1889.
Middle V - VI. Minor Scholar.
School Prefect.
New College, Oxford; B.A. (Second
Class History) 1912; articled
to Clerk of Lancashire County Council.
Great War, 2nd Lieutenant 2nd West Lancashire Brigade R.F.A. (T.F - 'A' Bty 276th Bde.)
1914; Lieutena.
The Thomas Gair Exhibition was founded in his memory.
'When war broke out he joined the R. F. A., but before the Brigade went abroad he was appointed Instructor at the Bettisfield Training Camp. In January last he once again re-joined his Brigade, which was then in Flanders, and he was in the third battle of Ypres on July 31st. On September 9th he was doing a 24 hour tour of duty with an infantry battalion. Their headquarters were heavily shelled, and three-quarters of the unit became casualties. He attended to the wounded, and when a shell hit the dug-out occupied by the battalion runners and signallers, he went to them, anxious to know if any of his own men were among those hit. Just as he was about to enter the dug-out a shell hit him, and he was killed instantaneously.' (Malvernian, Nov 1917).
Memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Bog Labs, Brathay, South Lakeland, Cumbria.
Son of Alfred and Ellen Dorothy Hayman, of Great Elm, Frome; husband of Marjorie Hayman, of Cromarty, Elmsleigh Rd., Weston-super-Mare. b. 1884.
Modern IV—II. House XI Football.
4th Batt. Welch Regt.; retired 1911.
Rancher in Canada.
Great War, Private Canadian Mounted Rifles 1914; Captain 3rd Batt. Welch Regt.
"A" Coy. 2nd Bn. Welsh Regiment.
'After resigning his commission he married, and went to Canada to take up farming He was doing very well there when war broke out, and he joined the Canadian Mounted Rifles and returned to England. Upon his return he re-joined his old Regiment, was made Captain last December, and left for the front (France) early this year. He went through a great deal of very hard fighting, in which he showed conspicuous bravery (as those who knew him here felt sure he would); while his good nature made him very popular both with officers and men. He was wounded early in July, but was soon at the front again, and was killed while leading his Company into the front line on Sept. 9th.' (Malvernian, Nov 1916).
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour:
He was killed in action while leading his company at High Wood. He was awarded the Military Cross "For keeping his men together a whole week in the front line under terrific shell fire. Although wounded the first day, he refused to allow himself to be sent back, and was buried three times. He acted with great gallantry and set his men a splendid example.” The Brigadier-General of the 1st Division wrote "He was certainly one of the best company commanders in the brigade, and had done most excellent work only last month, where his energy and fearlessness were most conspicuously shown. He is a real loss to us,” and his Commanding Officer: “I thought you would like to know how much I valued him, and how highly I thought of his abilities as a soldier.” A brother officer also wrote: "It may be a great consolation to you to know that he was beloved by the officers and men of my battalion. I have known him for the past twelve years. I had the very highest opinion of him.” and another: “I look back on all my friends who have gone, and above all stands one — a little higher, a little nobler, a little finer than all the rest — your husband."
Son of G. W. Overman, Manor House, Weasenham, Norfolk, b. 1896.
Lower Modern II—Lower Modern I.
With an Estate Agent.
Great War, Trooper Norfolk Yeomanry 1914; 2nd Lieutenant, Captain Yorkshire L.I.
'By his subsequent career J. G. Overman fully justified the opinion formed of him here that he was a boy of strong and determined character, who would tackle with courage any difficulty that crossed his path. Those who knew him here will read with pride, and readily believe, that the enemy trench in which he was killed was reached by the battalion largely owing to his determination and gallantry. In a short time he had made himself a most efficient soldier; his General pays a very high tribute to his able leadership, and had prophesied that he would go very far in the profession which this war had called upon him to adopt.' (Malvernian, Nov 1918).