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 July 8th 1896, Langton Lodge, Hendon, Middlesex. Son of William Bower (Bachelor of Medicine) and Edith Corinna Bower formerly Carroll, late of Hendon, Middx and Clywd Hall, Ruthin and 'Coed Mawr', Holywell, Flintshire, and Raleigh House, Ottery St. Mary, Devon, b. 1896.
Middle Shell—Matriculation Class. House Prefect. XL Cricket and Football.
Went to Cambridge University and then to the Royal Military College, January 1915.
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).
'On leaving Sandhurst, where he was a Cadet Officer, he joined the K.O.R. Lancaster Regiment, and went to France in July of this year. He had only been there less than a month when he succumbed to appendicitis on August 9th. A boy of great charm and one of the keenest of Malvernians, his early death cut short what seemed likely to prove a promising career.' (Malvernian, Nov 1916).
Service record:WO 339/56299
Born: August 31st 1895, 11 Belgrave Gardens, Hougham, Kent.
Father: Colonel Edward Arthur Waldegrave Courtney C.M.G., C.B.E (late Lancashire Fusiliers and Royal Army Service Corps).
Mother: Hilda Maria Courtney formerly Chapman.
Upper IV.
Great War, 2nd Lieutenant A.S.C. 1915; Lieutenant. G.H.Q. Troops Supply Col. 55th Coy. Army Service Corps.
8th November 1916, admitted to Stationary hospital, Boulogne with furunculosis (boils).
Died from dysentery at 46th Stationary Hospital Etaples on 9th August 1918.
Service record:WO 339/44431
Medal card: WO 372/5/46205
Son of George James and Emily Dennistoun, of Peel Forest, Timaru, New Zealand.
Modern IV—Lower Modern I. House Prefect.
23rd Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps and North Irish Horse.
'He was a boy of sturdy character, frank and lively in disposition, and popular in his House and in the School. On returning to his home in New Zealand he became a sheep-farmer. He took the keenest pleasure in mountaineering, and made the ascent of many of the snow-capped Southern Alps of New Zealand, amongst them that of several virgin peaks. He climbed, alone, Mitre Peak, in Milford Sound, which had been considered inaccessible. He did a considerable amount of exploration work, and was a member of the Alpine Club. In 1910-11 he went to the Antarctic in the Terra Nova, as a member of Captain Scott's expedition in charge of mules, and was awarded the King's Antarctic Medal and that of the Royal Geographical Society. On the outbreak of the war he came to England and was given a commission in the Irish Horse. He went to the front in Nov. 1915 and served for some months as Intelligence Officer to a Division, afterwards joining the Royal Flying Corps.' (Malvernian, Dec 1916).
On 9 August 1916, he was acting as Observer in a FE2b 6348 on a bombing mission East of Arras and was in combat with three Fokker enemy aircraft and was wounded 3 times in the stomach. His biplane caught fire, and was compelled to descend in the enemy’s lines, and died from his wounds at Ohrdruf in Thuringia.
Auckland museum Wikipedia (in German) Flight Magazine InvisionZone
Son of Mrs C. R. Longbourne and late Charles R. V. Longbourne of Highmead, Guildford Liphook, Hants, b. 1887.
Lower IV—Matriculation Class. House XI Football; Anderson Medal.
Solicitor 1912; 1914. 2nd Lieutenant 5th Battalion attd. 2nd/4th Bn. The Queens (West Surrey Regt.)
Great War, mobilised 1914, Lieutenant.
Killed in action in Gallipoli August 9, 1915.
'He was mortally wounded on May 8th, 1915, whilst leading his platoon near the crest of Chocolate Hill above Suvla Bay. His men went on but were driven back, and had to dig themselves in. It was found impossible to bring him in under the heavy fire during daylight, but he continued to give his orders as he lay in the open for some hours until he died. At school his cheery nature and peculiarly loyal and affectionate disposition endeared him to all who knew him.' (Malvernian, Mar 1916).
'He took part in the landing at Suvla Bay on the early morning of 9 Aug 1915, and in the subsequent assault on Chocolate Hill, the same day; while leading his platoon in the attack he was badly wounded near the top of the hill, but refused to allow his men to help him, telling them to go on. Afterwards, owing to the cross fire and nature of the country, it was found impossible to get to him and he was never seen again.' (De Ruvigny).
Born 8th November 1890. Son of Thomas B. and Harriette Rutherfoord.
Army III—I.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; Border Regt. 1910; Captain 1915.
Great War, 1st Bn. attd. 6th Bn. Border Regiment.
Brother of Miss M F Rutherfoord of Itchen Abbas, Winchester, Hampshire.
'He left school rather young and before reaching a position of authority. He was a bright intelligent boy, and though not very robust physically, he showed considerable courage and determination in all that he undertook. He was killed at the Dardanelles about the 9th of August.' (Malvernian, Nov 1915).
'He was shot first in the hand and then in the head and killed on the ridge to the left of Chocolate Hill about 5 o'clock in the morning of August 7th. Lieut Gillbank & McCausland were killed at the same time & place. There were only nine men at this particular spot and they were unaware that the battalion had retired.
Witness says that only two men got back and he (witness) was one of them.' (Testimony of Private Boardman, Border Regt, Grand Hotel, Helouan, 15th October 1915).
Below is an extract from the Unit War Diary:
'9th August 1915. At 1.45am the Battn left bivouac & marched to Yilghin Burnu reaching positions for deployment just north of this point at 5am.
The advance started about 5am. The advance proceeded in a satisfactory manner till 6.30am, the firing line reaching the nalla near Ismail Uglutepe. The left at this junction about the region of Kanli Keupru Dere was driven in, the enemy coming on to Hill 70 & the heights of Abrijka thereby enfilading the left of the Battn attack. A & B Companies were now pushed into the firing line. Battn Headqrs were formed along the road just north of Tordut Chesme, a very heavy enfilade fire from enemy machine guns was experienced & the firing line became divided into isolated groups, no supports coming up. A further retirement on the left caused the Commanding Officer to collect as many men as he could along the road about Tordut Chesme. The line was held all day until 5pm. A large number of men had been killed & wounded along the line by machine guns. At 5pm the remainder of the Battn retired about 150 yds & occupied an old trench & dug in.
Casualties being Officers: 12 killed, 4 wounded & 1 missing. 20 officers started the attack.
Rank & file: Killed 26, wounded 241, missing 131. 696 men started in the morning.'
Memorial at St John The Baptist, Itchen Abbas, City of Winchester, Hampshire, England
Service record:WO 339/7744 Unit War Diary page 1 Unit War Diary page 2
.jpg "View original memorial book page")
Son of A. Taylor, Starston Place, Harleston, Norfolk, b. 1888.
Upper Shell—VI. School Prefect. Head of House. XI Cricket; XL Football.
Pembroke College, Cambridge; B.A. 1910.
Assistant Master St. Andrew's, Eastbourne; in business (Osier's, Birmingham).
Great War, Lieutenant 5th Shropshire L.I.
'He took the greatest interest in all that belonged to school life, and his cheerful disposition together with a sense of humour made him a splendid companion. As Head of No. 3 he showed the qualities of a real leader; he never spared himself, and by his kindness and patience he always got the best out of others. On leaving Cambridge, he returned for a short while to his preparatory school, St. Andrew's, Eastbourne, and after that he went into Osier's Glassworks in Birmingham. He was killed in Flanders on August 9th, aged 27. He met his death while in command of an advanced trench, a shell killing him instantaneously while he was endeavouring to bind up the wound of one of his corporals.' (Malvernian, Nov 1915).
Born 12th August 1887. Son of Paul Henry and Edith Mary Twinberrow Thompson, Llanishen, Cardiff.
Upper IV—Matriculation Class.
Solicitor 1911.
Great War, Private Public Schools' Batt. 1914; 2nd Lieutenant 3rd Somerset L.I. and 1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry.
'Reginald Paul Thompson was at Malvern from 1902 to 1904. He made many friends at School, and did his best after leaving to keep up the circle, and to remain in touch with Malvern. He was articled to a solicitor in Worcester, and remained in this district till he left to start a practice in Cardiff. On the outbreak of war he joined the Public School Corps as a Private, and was commissioned in May 1915 to the Somerset Light Infantry, then at Plymouth. He acted as musketry instructor till he was transferred to the 1st Battalion in July last, and joined them in France.' (Malvernian, Nov 1916).
He died at No 10 Casualty Clearing Station from gas poisoning.
Service record:WO 339/48211
.jpg "View original memorial book page")
Son of Colonel Tomes, Abbotsleigh, Bristol, b. 1884.
Modern III—Army I. House XI Cricket and Football.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; 2nd Lieutenant Unattached 1905; Indian Army 1906; Captain (53rd Sikhs) 1914; N.W. Frontier of India 1908, Medal with Clasp.
Great War, attached 5th Gurkha Rifles.
'The officer commanding another native regiment writes: "The whole of the officers of my regiment were killed or wounded, and he was sent up to take my place. He was really attached to the 1/5th and not to us, but we had nobody left, and the General thought someone must go up. He came to see me before he went out, and said that he would do his best to get the regiment safely out of the precarious position they were in. The regiments on the right and left had retired and left them greatly exposed. Within 10 minutes of getting up he was killed."' (Malvernian, Nov 1915).
