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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Son of Alexander and E. J. Cooke, of Nottinghill House, Malone Road, Belfast, b. 1884.
Lower Modern II—I.
Formerly in the Linen Trade; afterwards served in British South African Police, S. Rhodesia.
Prior to 1914 he served with the South African Police and was assisting as Adjutant in the Ulster Volunteer Force upon the outbreak of war.
3rd Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Mentioned in Despatches.
Ref:IWM Bond of Sacrifice
Son of Herbert Hobbs, of Riding Mill, Northumberland and Falcons, Elmfield Road, Gosforth. b. 1894.
Middle Shell—Matriculation Class. House Prefect. Shooting VIII.
Keble College, Oxford.
Great War, 2nd Lieutenant 8th Northumberland Fusiliers 1914 ; Lieutenant 2nd Batt.
2nd Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers.
He was a fine long
distance runner, and won the mile race for his College while at Oxford.
'At the outbreak of the war he had just completed his first year at Keble College, Oxford; he intended after his University career to be ordained. He was one of the first to be given a temporary commission in August 1914, and was sent for one month to the Officers' Training Camp at Churn, after which he was appointed to the 8th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. After several months training he was promoted Lieutenant and went to the Staff College at Camberley, subsequently being gazetted to a permanent commission in the Regular Army, 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He went out to the front with a draft to his regiment on May 2nd, and was killed in
action nr. Hooge on May 25th.' (Malvernian, Jul 1915).
Menin Gate South:In Memory and In Mourning By Paul Chapman
Born: 16th July 1883. Son of Hugh Nicholson (Cotton Broker) and Margaret Gifford Nicholson (formerly Broadfoot), Sutton Hall, Little Sutton, Cheshire.
Lower IV—Middle V.
Great War, 2nd Lieutenant 2nd Bn. Cheshire Regt.
'Ypres, 24th May. 4am. Battalion proceeded to Ypres (from Brandhoek) following line of railway south of town and thence into trenches in square I 10 (Sheet 28 1/40000) from which an attack was made on enemy trenches about midnight. Battalion was subjected to a withering shell fire in the morning while advancing over open ground.
11pm 25th May. Battalion relieved and returned to Brandhoek.
Casualties: 5 officers (including Nicholson) and 8 other ranks.' (Unit Way Diary)
Service record:WO 339/508
Unit war diary:WO 95/2276/2
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Son of Harry Walter Swayne and Maude Isabel Bull (formerly Swayne), of The Cot, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, and Glastonbury, b. 1895.
Middle IV A—Lower Modern II.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; Somerset Light Infantry 1914; Lieutenant 1915. 2nd Bn. Somerset Light Infantry.
'He went to France on Christmas Day 1914, and was for some time in the trenches. Having been invalided home he was sent to another Battalion of his Regiment at Quetta, where he died from appendicitis on May 25th, 1917. Cheery and buoyant in temperament and fond of every kind of game and sport he had many of the qualities which go to form the good soldier and popular officer. He was not at Malvern long enough to become prominent, but he was one of those boys who are quick to make friends wherever they go, and there will be many besides his own family to mourn his loss.' (Malvernian, Jul 1917).
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Son of J. P. Tatham, 16 Lyndhurst Road, Hampstead, N.W. b. 1890.
Upper IV B—Lower Modern I. House Prefect. Ledbury Cap.
Farmer in England; Tea Planter in Ceylon.
Great War 1914-19 (overseas), Private Royal Fusiliers 1914; Lieutenant 14th Middlesex.
'After two years' of farming in England, he went to a tea plantation in Ceylon. At the end of 1914 he came over to England, enlisted in the Empire Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. Early in 1915 he received a commission in the 14th Middlesex, and one year later joined the 11th Middlesex in France. He was invalided home in August 1916, suffering from shell shock. Later he was with the 1st Battalion, with whom he was serving when he was awarded the Military Cross. He was demobilised in March 1919. But the war had left its mark on him, an operation was considered essential, and he died, as the result of it, on May 25th, 1919. Another of those quiet, unassuming boys, who have proved their worth up to the hilt.' (Malvernian, Dec 1919).
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Son of J. H. Topham, Morley Hall, Derby, b. 1891.
Middle IV A—Matriculation Class. House Prefect.
Clare College, Cambridge; B.A. 1913; Indian Army 1913.
Great War, attached Welch Regt.
'On Aug 3rd last he was gazetted to the Indian Army on the nomination of the University. Early in March he proceeded to the front, being posted to the 1st Bn. Welsh Regiment. He died at a clearing station in France on May 25, after being severely wounded in the head on the previous day.' (Malvernian, Jun 1915).