Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

9 April - 29 April 1918. As the first phase of the great German campaign of 1918 lost momentum and failed in its objective to split the British and French armies, subsidiary attacks were shift the balance of the attack and to seek opportunities to exploit other sectors. On the Lys the Germans initially enjoyed spectacular success against a Portuguese Division but the gap was soon plugged and the advance halted.

Detail :

"Splendido" is the inscription chosen by Captain Boucher's mother. The word means excellent. Boucher had an excellent war record. When war broke out he was working with the Chinese Maritime Customs Service in China. Returning home immediately to volunteer, he was commissioned into the Somerset Light Infantry going with them to France in September 1915. Never far from the fighting, Boucher was eventually wounded on the Somme early in September 1916 and hospitalised in England. He returned to the front early in 1917 and then was more severely wounded at Inverness Copse in August 1917 and again hospitalised in England. On recovery he was sent to Ireland and was serving there when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918. On 2 April, he was ordered from Ireland to France to join the 1st Battalion to help stem the German onslaught.

"Haileybury School - After leaving school he entered the Chinese Maritime Customs and was serving at Teugguch when the war broke out. He at once gave up his appointment, and came home to serve his country. He was given a commission in the 3rd Somerset Light Infantry, and went to France with the 6th Battalion. He saw much fighting on the Somme, and returned to England, wounded in September 1916, being mentioned in despatches. He was promoted Captain and rejoined his battalion in France early 1917. In August of that year he was again wounded more severely at Inverness Copse. He received the MC in 1917. He was for some time in hospital, but on recovery was sent to Ireland, where he was stationed until 2nd April 1918, when he was ordered to join the 1st Battalion in France. He took part in the successful attack on the 14th April, when prisoners and machine guns were taken and the German counter attack was completely repulsed. He was fighting with his battalion when he was killed in Action on Tuesday 23 April 1918 . Age 27 .

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette 30 September 1916 - "SOMERSET OFFICER CASUALTIES - The following casualties to officers of the Somerset Light Infantry are officially reported:- Killed: Second-Lieutenant R.M. Heath. Wounded: Capt. G. Warre-Cornish, 2nd-Lieutenants H.M. Boucher ..."

Western Times and Western Daily Press 23 September 1918 - WEST COUNTRY OFFICERS WIN THE MILITARY CROSS - " The "London Gazette" announces that the following West Country Officers have been awarded the Military Cross:- Lt.(T.Capt) Henry Mason Boucher, Som. L.I. Spec Res.: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer encouraged his men to press on through heavy machine-gun fire by going ahead of them. Later, when the enemy counter-attacked under cover of heavy mortar and shell fire, he dashed up to the front line and rallied some posts which were wavering, and pushed in supports and reserve Lewis guns, breaking up the counter-attack."

Buried at Choques Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. IV.A.21. Also on the Walton in Gordano Memorial. http://www.curme.co.uk/walton.htm Roll of Honour is located in St Mary's Church, Walton St Mary, Clevedon, Somerset Captain. 3rd Battalion, prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Temporarily attached to the 1st Battalion. Killed in action 23rd April 1918, aged 27.

Masonic :

Joined Lodge Northern Light of China No. 2673 at Newchang, on 9th July 1912

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley