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")
Born 10th October 1886, Acocks Green Birmingham. Son of Tom & Marianne Birkett Barker, Lapworth Croft, Hockley Heath, Warwickshire. Father's Occupation: Engineer (Consulting).
Lower V—VI. Minor Scholar.
Occupation: Solicitor. Address: Exchange Buildings, New Street, Birmingham
'He came to Malvern as a Classical scholar, and at an early age reached the Vlth Form, showing much promise. In 1910 he became a solicitor, practising in Birmingham. He was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant to the H.G.A. in December 1915, and after much service abroad, where his knowledge of languages proved of the greatest use, he succumbed to malaria and dysentery on August 15th. He was well-known as a golfer in the Midlands, winning the Warwickshire Gold Medal three years in succession. Writing of him a friend says: "His character was quite an unusual one, for he was not given to frivolity, but with level-headed and sound intelligence and a cultured mind he united rare amiability with a refreshing sense of humour and great kindness of heart. Thus he won universal esteem and regard, just as there was so much admiration for his fine sportsmanship. He leaves a record of a finely developed intellectual nature, splendid young manhood and last of all, the noblest sacrifice.'' ' (Malvernian, Dec 1917).
134th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Disembarked at Salonica on 20.8.1916
On October 1st 1916, telegram sent stating that he disembarked at Malta from Salonica suffering from Malaria.
Died of Dysentery.
Service Record: National Archives Ref:WO 339/50906 Medal Card
Son of H. Noble, Temple Combe, Henley-on-Thames, b. 1897.
Middle IV A—Army I.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; K.R.R.C. 1915.
'Norris Heatley Noble was a member of No. 5 from 1910-14, when he left for a short stay with an Army Tutor preliminary to Sandhurst. He was at the R.M.C. for the first few months of the war, commissioned to the King's Royal Rifle Corps in March 1915, and was wounded in an attack and counter-attack on July 27th, and again on the way to the dressing-station. For a time he seemed likely to recover, but he died on August 15th, much regretted by his fellow officers and men. He left School too young to have made his mark, but will be remembered by his generation as the embodiment of good temper and good humour in all the changing fortunes of daily life.' (Malvernian, Nov 1916).
Son of Major Preston, Swainston, Dunsany, co. Meath. b. 1885.
Army IV—I. School Prefect. Head of House. XL Cricket and Football.
3rd Durham L.I. 1904; Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1907; Captain 1914. Despatches.
'As Head of his House he proved a real leader, and put the greatest enthusiasm into all which he undertook.
At the outbreak of war he was ordered to Naas and afterwards to the Curragh, to raise the 6th Service Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, with which he proceeded to the Gallipoli Peninsular on July 9th. He took part in all the heavy fighting at Suvla Bay until August 15th, when he fell in the moment of victory.
An officer of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers wrote: "When the word came that we were to clear the ridge we fixed bayonets; then we all started together, Dublins and Munsters, John (Captain Preston) shouting 'Come on, boys.' They (the Turks) threw bombs and opened fire upon us as we neared the top, but we went straight on and rushed the trench. The Turks put up their hands. I saw John stop his men who were just going to bayonet a Turkish officer. As you know, he was my best friend, and was loved by everyone in the regiment, officers, N.C.O.'s, and men."' (Malvernian, Dec 1915).
Son of J. W. Richards, 7 Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, b. 1891.
Modern III—Matriculation Class.
Trinity College, Dublin; Gold Medal and First Place Final.
Examination Law Society. Great War, Captain 6th Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
Killed in action in Gallipoli, August 15, 1915; Despatches.
'At School he never took a very prominent position being of a retiring nature, but he was all the time laying in a store of character which asserted itself, when the time came, in a very remarkable way.
As an officer he showed quite unusual promise, and won the affection and respect of officers and men alike. His Commanding Officer writes: "The regiment in conjunction with some Munsters had just made a brilliant charge and captured the position. When on it, I asked your son to take some men along the ridge and make good the eastern end of it. Just as they were doing so a bomb was hurled over the crest hitting your poor boy on the head. He died instantly. To me personally your son is a terrible loss. He had been Adjutant for several months and right well he did his work. No boy could have done more." ' (Malvernian, Nov 1915).