BOUCHER Daniel

The following information has been researched and transcribed by Brian Hill:
19632 Private John Thomas Boucher, and 19633 Private Daniel Boucher, 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, who were both Killed in Action on 16th May 1915.

John Thomas and William Boucher were the sons of Eliza and William Boucher of Astley Burf, near Stourport on Severn, Worcestershire. The 1911 census shows them both as farm labourers. In 1915 John Thomas was aged 19, and Daniel was aged 28.

They attested together sometime in late 1914. Daniel entered France on the 1st April 1915, and it is assumed that the same applies to John, only some six weeks before they died.

At Festubert the 2nd Worcesters were ordered to attack the enemy trenches on the night of 15th/16th May 1915, together with the 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers on their right. The 11.30 pm attack was to be silent and at a walk until the enemy trench was reached. Two Worcester Companies lay down in front of their trenches ready to attack. The Inniskillings charged before the ordered time of 11.30 pm, with “wild Irish yells”. When the Worcesters rose to their feet surprise had been lost. The 200 yards of mud before the German trench were lit up with flares, accompanied by a hail of bullets. The Companies were disordered, very few men reached the German wire. A further Company attempted to reinforce but it was soon seen that the attack had failed and the survivors should be withdrawn. However, many stayed in the open until dawn tending the wounded and looking for survivors. When dawn came the Worcester’s front line was heavily bombarded, with more casualties. Some 250 of the 2nd Worcesters were lost in these few hours.

Daniel Boucher has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Le Touret Memorial.