17th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
William Gilbert Boucher was the second of five children born to Charles and Anna Boucher (variously spelt as Bowsher/Baucher on Ancestry).
Charles was born in Kingston St Michael in Wiltshire in 1861 and Anna in Avening, five years later. The couple were married in Kingston in 1884 and by 1888 were living in Chalford where their first son was born. Charles’ surname is Bowsher on both his baptism and marriage registers.
William was born in Chalford on 20 February 1893 but not baptised until 15 October of that year. Charles’ occupation is given as ‘waterman.’ By now the surname was Boucher.
Charles was still living in Kingston St Michael at the 81 Census and was a labourer.
According to the 1901 Census, the family was living at 35 Millbrook Street, Gloucester. Charles’ name appears on the electoral roll for 1902 at that address. Their youngest child Lionel was born in Gloucester in 1904. Charles was now a platelayer on the railway and William’s older brother, Sidney, was employed as a tram conductor.
The 1911 Census finds William living with his mother, Anna, (whose status was married) and three younger siblings at 78 High Street, Gloucester. The head of the household was widowed Emily Gardner who I believe to be Anna’s sister. The Boucher family are listed as visitors. Emily was a confectioner/tobacconist and Anna a ‘general business keeper’. The property is still a general store today. William was a baker. His brother Sidney had married and with a young daughter, was living nearby at 100 India Road and working as fireman on the railway.
I have been unable to locate the whereabouts of William’s father on the 1911 Census. I have checked the railway employment records as I wondered whether Charles was working with the GWR in Birmingham which might account for why William enlisted in Birmingham and his name appearing on the Birmingham Roll of Honour. Alas I was unable to categorically find Charles Boucher’s name amongst the records or of William’s older brother Sidney who was a railwayman.
It would appear that the family moved to Birmingham between 1911 and 1914 and that William’s father died between 1911 and 1916 but again I have found no record to confirm this.
According to the available records, William enlisted for war service in Birmingham and appears on the Birmingham Roll of Honour. There are no service records.
The 17th Fusiliers (Bantams) was formed in Bury in December 1914. They mobilised for war landing at Le Havre on 29 January 1916. The regiment were involved in the Battle of Bazentin Ridge from 14 to 17 July 1916.
William died of wounds in Edinburgh on 30 August 1916 (age 23) and is buried at the Chalford Tabernacle, where a standard CWGC headstone marks his grave.
There was reference to a newspaper article following William’s death (copied below) on the IWM Lives of the First World War website, which I obtained from the Stroud News and Journal edition of 30 September 1916:
Amid very many signs of respect and sympathy the mortal remains of Pte William Boucher, of the Lancashire Fusiliers were interred in the burial ground of Chalford Tabernacle on Monday, the Rev D J H Carter officiating.
Deceased who was 24 years of age, was a scholar in the Tabernacle Sunday School in his early days, and was the son of the late Charles Boucher and of Mrs Boucher of Birmingham, and formerly of Chalford. He was wounded on June 24th and was taken to the hospital of the Deaconess of Edinburgh, where he died. His body was removed to Birmingham to the home of his Mother, and thence conveyed by motor to Chalford.
The chief mourners were the Mother and relatives from Brimscombe, Gloucester and Birmingham. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and beautiful wreaths, and the bearers were Messrs F Fowles and H Gardiner, Pte A King and the chauffeur from Birmingham.
The wreaths were sent from Sid and Floss, brother and sister, sister Daisy and friend Eddie, sister May and friend, his sisters Daisy and May’s shopmates at Messrs Hawkins and Co, Cheapside, a friend, from neighbours and Bob. Several of the inscriptions bore testimony to the deceased’s patriotism and showed he was loved by all his family and friends.
There is a record of the War Gratuity paid to his mother, Anna who is described as the sole legatee. She received a payment of £3 5s 6d on 29 December 1916 followed by £7 on 30 September 1919.
I have found William’s mother Anna Marie, living with her youngest son, Lionel in Birmingham in the 1925 and 1927 electoral rolls.
Research by Helen Wollington 21 November 2017