The death rate amongst those from public schools was almost twice that of other soldiers:

http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/12/real-eton-rifles

Indeed, could argue (as Orwell did) that the public school system trained men for their place in war with the "old lie" of Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

[NB For those not in the UK - "public schools" are the self-appointed elite private schools, most people go to state schools]