People Australia

Herbert Boucher, c. 1915 photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

HERBERT WILLIAM JOHN BOUCHER, son of Mr. J. W. and Mrs. Clara Louisa Boucher, was born at Chiltern, Victoria, on 1 st August, 1890. He was educated at the Brighton Grammar School and joined the service of the Bank on 15th November, 1908, at Fitzroy. His subsequent appointments were to Mansfield, in February, 1911; Wangaratta, September, 1912; Corryong, February, 1914; York, October, 1914; and to Perth, in January, 1915.

He enlisted on 30th June, 1915, and served with the 12th Battalion in Egypt from November of that year until March, 1916, when he was transferred to the 52nd Battalion and proceeded to France in the following June. His service on the Western Front, which lasted until October, 1917, was strenuous and eventful. He took part in the Battles of Mouquet Farm, Lagnicourt, Bullecourt, Messines, and Passchendaele. During this period he was first blown up and buried and was deafened in one ear in the Ypres salient in October, 1916; finally he was wounded in the right foot, both thighs, right arm, and neck, on 19th October, 1917.

He had been promoted to the rank of lance-corporal in September, 1916, and lieutenant in January, 1918.