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.
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 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 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 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 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'.