The following is a list with biographies of the 249 people who attended Malvern College and died due to the Second World War. There is also a corresponding page commemorating the 459 casualties in the First World War.
The fallen are commemorated at Malvern with the statue of St. George, which is inscribed 'To Our Brothers', and the names themselves are written on a marble memorial in the Ante-Chapel.
After the Phoney war had ended, there was not a month from May 1940 to May 1945, that an Old Malvernian did not lose their life, though unlike the First World War there were not major spikes in losses on a particular day or month.
5 were killed in the Battle of Dunkirk at the end of May 1940, and 4 during the Battle of Britain between July and October 1940.
3 OMs lost their lives during the Blitz between September 1940 and May 1941.
21 lost their lives in the Western Desert Campaign between June 1940 to February 1943 with 5 buried at El Alamein War Cemetery and 6 commemorated at the Alamein Memorial.
4 were killed during the Allied invasion of Sicily between July and August 1943, and 5 at the Battle of Monte Cassino between January and May 1944 with 8 commemorated at the Cassino Memorial And Cemetery.
8 were killed after the D-Day landings during Operation Overlord between June and August 1944, and 2 in Operation Market Garden in September 1944.
In South-East Asia, 2 were killed during the Japanese-Thai occupation of Malaya between Dec 1941 and Jan 1942, 4 were killed during the Japanese occupation of Singapore in February 1942, and 7 were killed during the Burma Campaign between 1942 and 1945.
Most (97) OMs served in the R.A.F. with many in Bomber Command. 22 are commemorated at Runnymede Memorial as they have no known grave.
14 served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, 5 in the Royal Navy, 31 in the Royal Artillery, and 4 in the Royal Tank Regiment, with the remainder disbursed among 75 other units.
George Chesterton in the Remembrance Day Service of 2009, having described the lives and loss of five of his friends, reflected:
'Some of these brave men have no known grave, but we must remember them, along with all the tens of thousands of others, who gave their lives for their homelands and their friends. It is thanks to them that all of us sit in this Chapel, from a wide variety of countries and backgrounds and are able to sit together in security and friendship.'
The information below is based on 'The Malvern College Register, Second Supplement, 1949' edited for the Malvernian Society by F. W. Roberts, the 'The Malvernian' school magazine, and 'Malvern College: A 150th Anniversary Portrait' by Roy Allen.
Further information was also obtained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, the Unit War Diaries held at the National Archives in Kew, and various online commemorative websites whose links have been provided.
Below is a map showing the locations of the 126 cemeteries where Old Malvernians are buried or commemorated in. The markers are coloured yellow for one casualty, orange for between 2 and 4, and red for 5 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 can be seen by clicking on 'Further Info'.
The records can be filtered and/or sorted by surname, house, age, regiment, date, place etc by clicking on the appropriate drop down box and then the 'Search' button below the map.
Born 22 Jul 1916. Son of C. St Hugh Dawes. Mrs Johnstone, The Rookery, Waterbeach, Cambridge.
Bus. V. School Prefect. Head of House.
With Colombo Commercial Co.
6 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
During the early part of the war, the squadron flew Westland Lysanders in an army co-operation role in Palestine.
F/L Dawes and Sgt Chantry took off near Mantruh in Lysander L.6877 at 08:50 on 14th Dec 1940 to carry out a reconnaissance of Maddalena but failed to return.
The aircraft was seen to be shot down just over the Libyan border and that the two members of the crew were buried by soldiers where they had fallen. The graves though have not been found.
Http://www.stanwardine.com/malvernww1/ww2/Dawes_record_missing.pdf
Son of Mrs Blakey, 15 Archibald Rd., Tufnell Park.
Mod. Lan. V.
In business. With Industrial & General Trust Ltd.
1st Bn. Durham Light Infantry
Son of George Herbert (O.M. No 6. 1896) and Constance Gifford Watson, of Briar Cottage, Blackwell, Darlington, Co. Durham.
Army VI. House Prefect. L.-Corporal in O.T.C.
Cranwell.
Husband of Mary Watson, of Farnborough, Hampshire.
82 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
The squadron flew Blenheim light bombers with anti-shipping missions over the North Sea, including sinking a U-boat in March 1940.
On 17 May 1940, it suffered very heavy losses with 11 out of 12 Blenheims shot down by Messerschmitt 109s over Belgium.
From early 1941, the squadron played a prominent part in No. 2 Group's offensive against shipping in the English Channel and North Sea.
A detachment was sent to Malta in May 1941, with the rest of the Squadron following in June. It flew against enemy shipping and ports through into July, but extremely heavy losses lead to it being withdrawn, back to the UK at the end of the month.
'From Malvern he went on to Cranwell and his promotion was rapid for he was a Pilot Officer before he was 21 and a Squadron Leader at 23.' (Malvernian, Jul 1941).
On the 6th May 1941, S/Ldr Watson discovered 2 ships North of Borkum and attacked a 2000 ton tanker.
On the 8th May 1941, 9 aircraft carried out a night raid on the docks at Bremerhaven. S/Ldr Watson saw two of his bombs bursting throwing up debris. His aircraft was hit in the port wing by flak.
On the 11th June 1941, Squadron Leader M L Watson, Pilot Officer N C Alers-Hankey, Sergeant K Poole: missing believed killed; aircraft failed to return from operational flight, Blenheim K6426, 82 Squadron.
May 1941 Operations AIR-27-681-38
June 1941 Operations AIR-27-681-39
Missing report: AIR 81/6839
Son of William Knight Smyth and Ann Smyth, of Roehampton, London, and Boroadmead, Station Rd., Tring, Herts.
Hist V.
"C" Sqn. 7th Queen's Own Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps
With 'Daily Telegraph'.
Son of Kenneth J. and Ruth Harper, of Ballacolla, Co. Leix, Irish Republic, and Ozleworth Pk., Wotton-under-Edge, Glos.
School Prefect. XI Football. Ledbury Cap. Athletic Colours. L.-Sergt. In O.T.C.
2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
Royal Armoured Corps
His Major writes: "The squadron had to stand up to some 150 enemy tanks and we had to take some heavy punishment. John as usual was right up at the front and giving them everything he had got until he was killed instantaneously by a small-arms bullet. He was far and away my best Troop Leader and his wonderful keenness and complete fearlessness was a grand example and inspiration to all." Those of us who knew John Harper at School would have expected nothing less. (Malvernian, March 1942)
Son of Lt-Col William and M. L. Nichol, Feltham Ho., Loughton, Essex.
Mod. Remove. House Prefect.
London University.
Bank of England.
Husband of Nancy B. Nichol (nee Riviere), of Finchley, Middlesex.
4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)
Royal Armoured Corps
'He was Squadron Leader of a squadron he had himself formed, for he had been an officer in the Regiment for many years. One of his officers wrote: "He was killed doing one of the most gallant things that have been done out here. He went in himself on an aerodrome that we were defending three times to get out wounded men under terrific fire. The third time he was killed. A magnificent Squadron-Leader."' (Malvernian, March 1942)
Son of Richard and Winifred French, of Torquay, Devon, and of Steaperton Park rd., Clevedon, Somerset.
Hist. VI. School Prefect. Head of House. Football XXII. Cricket XL.
Exhibitioner and State Scholar of Exeter College, Oxford.
73 Anti-Tank Regt. Royal Artillery
'Few boys at Malvern can have had more friends than "George" French, and he never had an enemy in his life. His genial solidity and reliability were obvious at once, but he was what is often called a slow developer, so that it was only gradually that one came to realize how much ability and positive determination lay behind it. For instance he was the last on the list of Scholarship winners when he entered Malvern, but before he left he had not only won an Open Exhibition in History at Exeter College, Oxford, but also a State Scholarship—and these are very hard to get.
At games too, especially football, he seemed at first to be slow and clumsy, but he grew to be good enough to miss a School XI by only a narrow margin, and he did at least as much as more brilliant players to win the Football Cup for his House.
He was the ideal Head of House, combining vigour and enterprise with wisdom and humour in just the right proportions, and spreading round him the atmosphere of his own cheerful enthusiasm.
Such men as he run the greatest risks in war, especially in such fighting as the Libyan Campaign where individual courage and determination count for so much: for one can imagine that a Commanding Officer, called upon to choose a subaltern for a difficult and dangerous task, would naturally turn to him. All who remember him at Malvern would wish to offer their deepest sympathy to his parents in their great loss.' (Malvernian, March 1942)
Unit war diary: WO 166/1645 (Not found in this war diary - 73rd anti-tank regiment at Godalming in Dec 1941)
Son of William and Francis Helen Charles, of Monkton Wyld, Bathford, Somerset.
Bus. V.
33 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The squadron flew Hurricanes and was based in the Middle East with the exception of a time from January to May 1941 where it was involved in very heavy fighting trying to resist the invasion of Greece.
'16/12/41
Two formation of four Hurricanes each strafed transport on the road between Ghemines and El Agheila. Heavy casualties were inflicted on lorry borne troops and many vehicles were damaged.
F/O Charles hit a trailer that he was strafing and crashed in flames and was killed.'
33 Squadron record book, Dec 1941: AIR-27_367_15
Son of Norman and Dorothy Hall, of Cold Ash, Berkshire, and Woodleigh, Bryan Rd., Edgerton, Huddersfield.
Football XI 1929,1930.
Artificial Silk Manufacturer.
Husband of Marigold Hall, of Filey, Yorkshire.
196 Bty., 65 Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery
'He was a Yorkshireman by birth, who might have appeared at first to strangers as shy and unforthcoming, but behind this apparent diffidence there was a real strength of character and a keen almost anxious enthusiasm: to his intimates he gave a simple, loyal and disinterested friendship. As a leading member of the School Football team for two years, particularly of the 1930 team with its brilliantly successful record, he was given a prominence which never in the least affected his natural modesty. He left School at seventeen and started at once on a successful business career in the North. Always a good son and a good brother, he had married recently and it was his ambition that his young son should follow him to his old School. F.S.P.' (Malvernian, March 1942)
Son of Henry and Mary Scard, 30 Hamilton Terr., Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.
Husband of Marguerite L. Scard, of Llandaff, Cardiff.
Royal Institute of British Architects. Archibald Dawnay Scholarship (Welsh Sch of Architecture, Cardiff).
37 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The squadron flew Vickers Wellington bombers in the Middle East from November 1940.
P/O Scard took off at 20:05 on the 9th May 1942 in Wellington B.8987 and was detailed to attack shipping at Benghazi, but no news was heard of the aircraft after take off, and was reported missing.
37 Sqdn. Operation records, May 1942 AIR 27/390/9
Detail AIR 27/390/10
Son of Claude William and Ethel Chadburn of Papplewick Hall, Nottinghamshire.
Mod. Lan. V. House Prefect.
Peterhouse, Cambridge.
426 Bty., 107 (The South Notts. Hussars) Regt.
Royal Horse Artillery
Son of William Glen Stares and Gertrude Grace Stares, Manor House, Upham, Hants.
House Prefect.
3 Field Regt. Royal Artillery
'16th June 1942. El Adem. Enemy shelling early fairly heavy. CO - Lieut Col P.H. Teesdale wounded but refuses to leave.
15:00 - Brigade is to hold the box to the last man and the last round.
21:30 - Orders received to evacuate at 15 minutes notice. No preparations had been made and transport is fatally short.
17th June - Regiment re-assembled at Kennels East of Libyan Frontier. 5 guns only saved.
Captains G.R.D. Stares and another officer believed killed, with 4 officers believed P.O.W.'
Unit war diary: WO 169/4574
Son of George Ernest Wendover Beeson, and of Doris Emily Beeson, of Middleton-on-Sea, Sussex.
Sixth Form. House Prefect. Athletic Colours. Second Eleven Football. Lance Corporal in O.T.C.
Clare College, Cambridge.
2nd Bn. Scots Guards
Unit war diary extract:
'Area Garet, Heimeimat
19th July 1942
Captain Maxwell led a fighting patrol on to Taqa plateau at about 0500hrs; he destroyed two enemy posts and captured one German officer with three O.R.'s. As there were several other enemy posts the patrol then withdrew with their prisoners. After first light the remainder of Right Flank and the carriers attacked and in the end cleared up the position taking 30 prisoners and four A/Tk guns besides several automatic weapons. Unfortunately this success cost us very serious losses; Major Macrae, Lt Beeson and Sgt Doran were killed.'
Unit War Diary WO 169/4983
Personal story of incident
Son of Edward Christian Elliott and Edith Irene Elliott, of Bessel's Green, Kent, and of Pedro, Nuwara Eliya, Ceylon.
Sci V. House Prefect.
S. E. Agric. College, Wye.
Tea Planting. Assistant Superintendent Nuwara Eliya Estates, Ceylon.
Lance Corp., Ceylon Rifle Brigade. Wounded Dec. 1941 and killed in Libya, 23 July, 1942.
2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade
(No specific mention in this unit war diary)
Unit war diary: WO 169/5055
Son of Mr. Justice A. A. R. Hathorn and V. G. Hathorn, of Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa, and 9 Northumberland Avenue WC2.
Hist V. House Prefect. Athletic Colours.
Sidney Sussex, Cambridge, whence he returned to his home in Pietermaritzburg.
The 1st Royal Natal Carbineers, S.A. Forces
Son of Sqdn. Ldr. Eric Lawrence Moxey, G.C., R.A.F. (killed in action 27th August, 1940), and of Mary Arthur Moxey, of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey,
and 249 Hagley Rd., Edgbaston, Birmingham.
House Prefect.
Son of Thomas Arthur and Frances Mary Chamberlain, of Failand, Somerset, and of Belmont House, Flax Bourton, Nr. Bristol.
Army V. House Prefect.
Sandhurst.
6th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
'Alam Nayil, El Mireir. Night 24th/25th October 1942
A Strong patrol went out under Capt. Chamberlain and Lieut A.H.Sandwith. The patrol went West through JARROW Gap, then South along the West edge of the DON minefield. As it was approaching the small minefield leg at 87952662 our patrol was suddenly heavily fired on at short range from the West corner of the small minefield by 2 L.M.Gs. and several Sub Machine Guns — several members of the patrol were at once wounded including Capt. Chamberlain and Lieut. Sandwith. An Italian Officer then rushed forward with two other men shouting "Surrender" in English. He threw a grenade but was then shot down by rifle fire. Our patrol, which was in a very unfavourable position, then had to withdraw, and when a check had been made it was found that there were two members of the patrol missing: the patrol commander Capt. T.ff. Chamberlain, and a Sapper from 505 Fd. Coy. R.E who accompanied the patrol. Several men were slightly wounded, Lieut Sandwith and one O.R. were evacuated to hospital. A strong patrol under Capt. J. H. Chapman was sent out at once to try and find Capt. Chamberlain and the Sapper, and also to contact and destroy the enemy patrol. No sign could however be found of the missing officer and sapper, or of the enemy.'
Unit war diary: WO 169/5007
Son of The Revd. Thomas Lionel Chadwick, M.A., and Beryl Mary Chadwick, of Bagendon Rectory, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, and 56 Billing Rd., Northampton.
Sci VI. House Prefect. Drawing Prize.
Member of Nat. Soc. Of Painters, Sculptors and Engravers. Winner of 1st Prize at International Exhibition of Lithography and Wood Engraving at Chicago. Elected Member of R. Soc. Of British Artists, 1935.
Joined the 3rd The Kings Own Hussars and won the M.C. in Jan. 1942.
'In all probability he was the best artist which the School has ever produced.' (Malvernian, Jul 1943)
'During the period 10th May to 18th June (1941) Lieutenant Chadwick carried out many difficult patrols in an exemplary manner. His observation and reporting was excellent throughout and much of the information gained was of the highest importance.
On May 14th during an attack on Halfanya Pass and Sollum Lieutenant Chadwick was ordered to lead a party of Light Tanks along the sea shore in order to circumnavigate some enemy anti-tank gun positions at the bottom of Halfanya Pass. This manoeuvre was so successful that one gun was silenced and it lead to the ultimate surrender of the whole position.
On May 15th Lieutenant Chadwick was ordered to do a patrol on the top of Sollum Pass (the force having withdrawn from the top that morning). Although attacked by A.F.V.s and infantry, he managed to extricate his troop and send back much valuable information. '
MC Citation WO-373_18_403
His elder brother Captain Hector George Chadwick, who was also killed at El Alamein just two days before on the 25th October 1942, does not appear to have gone to Malvern. His younger brother, John Hough Chadwick, did go to Malvern and was listed as managing a Poultry Farm after the war.
Son of Ralph and Gwendoline Milnes, The Old Bank House, Worksop, Notts.
Senior Chapel Prefect. Head of House. Cadet Officer. Football XL
Exeter College, Oxford. (2nd Cl., Jurisprudence). Solicitor to Essex County Council.
Husband of Cynthia Milnes, of Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire. B.A.(Oxon.).
9th Queen's Royal Lancers Royal Armoured Corps
'2nd November 1942.
The regiment deployed just before first light under heavy shell-fire. It was soon obvious that 9th Brigade were having a terrific battle - A.P. tracer and burning Sherman and Grant Tanks all along the skyline. We pushed on up to them, and they withdrew through us. The rest of the day was quite undoubtedly the most unpleasant we have ever spent. The track from Aqqaqir to Sidi Abd El Rahman was the line held by the German A/Tank Guns, with a strong backing of tanks. Being leading regiment we were fired at continually by 88mm and 105mm guns from S.W., West and N.W., R.H.Q. appearing to be at the apex of all three lines of fire. It was not safe to even look out of the top of a tank, let alone get out: and we were compelled to sit indoors all day with no food or brew-ups.
'B' and 'C' Squadrons repulsed no less than six enemy tank attacks during the day, and the regiment finished with a score of 31, of which 21 were set alight, 5 A/Tank Guns (including one 88mm) and one Boche who had the impudence to ride a motor-cycle across the front of 'A' Squadron.
The officer casualties started early: Major C.D. Meyrick was slightly wounded in the head; 2/Lt J.T. Milne was also hit and evacuated.'
Unit war diary: WO 169/4481
Son of Ernest Louis and Agnes Mary Lee, Moor Park Farm House, Rickmansworth.
Army I. Heywood Prize, School Prefect, Head of House. Cricket XL. Football XL. Cadet Officer.
Woolwich.
R.G.A 1913. Captain 1917. Major 1932.
Husband of Barbara A. A. Lee, of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
'Brig. E. A. Lee, C.C.M.A. Anzac Corps. This officer commanded the Amyntaion Detachment during its early stages. He also commanded the Domokos Detachment which held a very important rearguard position during the withdrawal to the Thermopylae Line. No sooner was this task finished, than he was appointed Commander Peloponnese and finally he found himself organising yet another rearguard at Monemvasia under cover of which the final evacuation was successfully carried out.
To all these tasks he addressed himself with untiring energy and his cool judgment under heavy air and occasional ground attack was largely responsible for the success of the operations he was engaged in.'
DSO Citation WO-373_27_385
Son of Ferdinand Cecil and Alys Bertie Greatrex, of Lower Bourne, Surrey, and 72 Lissenden Mansions, Highgate Rd, NW5.
Mod. Lan VI. School Prefect. Head of House.
Trained with R.A.F. in Buluwayo. P/O.
Killed in Middle East on Dec. 15, 1943, when his Spitfire hit high-tension cable.