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.
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Born: 8th November 1891 at 2 Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent.
Son of Arthur Boosey (Music Publisher) and Lucy Ashton Boosey formerly Whitehead, of "The Cedars," Bromley Common, Bromley, Kent.
2 brothers and 2 sisters.
Lower Modern II—Modern I. School Prefect. Head of House. XL Cricket. Cadet Officer.
In business.
Became 2nd Lieutenant on 15th March 1913. 22nd Bn. London Regiment.
'Duty first, self last, briefly expresses his character. He was full of life with high ideals, and he had a great sense of humour. He was not cut out for a soldier, being essentially a man of peace; but when the call sounded, and he thought it was his duty to respond, he did so at once.
A fellow officer, an O.M., wrote of his death: "He and his brother Leslie and I worked together in the same company all through the war, and I think Noel had the most charming personality of anyone I ever met, besides being a most excellent officer. He was quite the most popular officer in the Battalion, and always went about the most unpleasant and dangerous jobs in the most cheerful way. The men all loved him. I think we would all have lost anyone rather than him." ' (Malvernian, Nov 1915).
Brother: Captain N. W. Boosey 22nd London Regiment was handed the personal possessions.
Service record:WO 374/7603
Born Feb 26th 1893. Second son of the Rev. William Grundy, Headmaster of Malvern College 1885-1891, and Margaret Grundy, School House, Abingdon. 1 brother (William), 3 sisters (Margaret, Mary & Flora).
Junior School - VI.
Latin Verse; English Verse. School Pre
fect. XI Cricket; House XI Football.
Heath H
arrison Exhibitioner, Brasenose College, Oxford; Second
Class Mods.; B.A. (Fourth Class Lit. Hum.) 1906; played Golf
v Cambridge 1904—06 (captain); Assistant Master Pocklington School 1906-07; H
aileybury College 1908; House Master 1913; 2nd Lieutenant Cadet Corps.
Great War, Lieutenant 9th Batt. Warwickshire Regt.
'George Grundy gave to Haileybury the best that was in him. The Master of Haileybury College writes of him: "We miss and shall miss Grundy more than I can say. He was an enthusiastic scholar; a keen player of all games; a Housemaster, and an Officer of O.T.C. But, more than all this, his gallant spirit, his wit, and his unfailing cheerfulness are what we shall always remember." On the outbreak of war he was gazetted Lieut, 9th (Service) Bn. R. Warwickshire Regt. His regiment was sent last June to the Dardanelles; in his short experience of active service his influence with his men is illustrated by the following extract from a censored letter: "I don't think I could go on, if it were not for our officer Mr. Grundy: he does everything for us, and we would do anything for him." He was killed on July 22, while encouraging his men to advance against some troublesome snipers. One who knew him all his life writes of him: "George Grundy inspired affection in no common degree. In his boyhood he had the gift of disarming the sternest and most justly irritated Masters. Out of school, and in later years, his wholesome and happy disposition, his wide sympathy, and perhaps, above all, his quaint humour, and sudden irresistible laugh, won him hosts of friends, who feel now that something radiant and vivifying has passed from their lives." ' (Malvernian, Nov 1915).
De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour:
He left for the Dardanelles in June 1915 and was killed in action in the front trenches at Gallipoli. Col. Palmer, who was killed two days later and buried beside him wrote : “He was one of my best officers. He was always thinking of the welfare of his men and was much loved by his comrades, who could not fail to appreciate his unselfish devotion to their interests.” Major Gordon, who succeeded Col. Palmer in command of the regt., wrote: “ Mr. Grundy was a splendid officer, energetic, capable, cheerful and brave.” His Influence with his men is illustrated by the following extract from a letter: “He does everything for us and we would do anything for him.” A brother officer concludes his letter : “Let it be some consolation that his end was worthy of his life and that he left behind him an example that we should like to follow.” The Master of Haileybury College wrote of him: “He was a keen scholar; he was a fine athlete; but what we loved him for was the boyish laugh, the unfailing cheeriness, the constant goodness of his heart. He had that real charm of personality which is given to but few men; but it is perhaps the best of God’s good gifts. I cannot put my feelings better than in the words one wrote to me : ‘ All the sunshine seems to have gone out with Grundy's death.’ “
Service record:WO 339/12837
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Son of T. Tiernay (O.M.), Beech Grove, Leamington, b. 1890.
Lower Shell—Modern I. House Prefect.
Engineer.
Great War, Private 1st Birmingham City Batt. 1914.
'The elder son of T. Tiernay (O. M.), he left in Modern I., and was engaged for some time in engineering work. He enlisted in August 1914 in the 1st Birmingham City Battalion, afterwards known as the 14th Warwicks. He remained with them, refusing all offers of a commission, and went out with them to France in November 1915. He was posted as Missing on July 22nd, 1916, near Delville Wood, east of Albert. Nothing has transpired as to his fate, so he has since been presumed killed on that day.' (Malvernian, Nov 1919).