Despite being named as George Guilding on the Malvern Library Memorial, no trace of a George can be found. The above details are for John Guilding who was working at the London City and Midland Bank in Great Malvern when, in 1914 he enlisted in the Worcestershire Yeomanry. He was killed in action during actions on the Steenbeek, near Langemarck at the opening of the Passchendaele Offensive.
On 1st September 1917, the Berrow’s Worcester Journal reported, under the headline “Redmarley officer’s death”:
“Sec-Lieut John Guilding, of the Worcesters, youngest son of Mr and Mrs H B Guilding, of Bury Court, Redmarley, and formerly of Eastington Hall, Upton-on-Severn, was killed in action in France on August 17th. Deceased was 24 years of age, and was educated at Hanley Castle Grammar School. Before joining the Worcester Yeomanry at the outbreak of war he held a post in the Metropolitan Bank at Malvern. He was with the above regiment in Gallipoli, and was there wounded on 22nd August, 1915. Returning to England, he was gazette in September 1916.”
Malvern News 24/11/14
