Hi all, Looking for any photos (that don't appear in Google image search) or information on Sir Cecil. I have his book Spitfires in Japan. He lived in Cowley, near Uxbridge from the late 1930s to the 1960s and my Great-Nan was his Cleaner as well as helped serve food etc at parties the family had at Cowley Cottage where he lived. My Grandad who served with the Artillery used to do his Garden for him and his wife when he was away with the RAF after my Grandad returned from active service in 1946. He, his first wife Gladys and disabled son Derek didn't have a Television so when the Coronation happened they came to my Great-Nans house as my Great-grandfather got a TV for the occasion ... even though he was a renowned tight fisted so and so. He interests me also as he gave my Grandad this lighter which I have (and it still works) curious as to how he got something like this as my Grandad told me MacArthur gave it to Bouchier and Bouchier to Grandad. (Photo is same as mine but photo one off internet as mine is away in a box). Be interested to see anything from peoples collections regarding him and also interested in a concise medal/decoration list for him too. My Grandad said Bouchier was a lovely man and very down to earth He had a framed signed photo of him in his wall too of him in Burma in I believe in his Tropical Uniform standing on the steps of his offices/hut which I have never seen anywhere else on the internet. Unfortunately at present my Nan can't find the photo ... really hope it turns up someday soon. Thanks in Advance Dan
IWM have several of him in tropical gear, but none are standing on the steps of a hut/office. search His entry in Who Was Who gives his decorations as: KBE 1953 (CBE 1941; OBE 1936); CB 1945; DFC 1918 Order of St Anne (Russia), 1919; Legion of Merit (Commander), USA, 1945 This of course misses out any campaign medals or stars & jubilee medals etc. Entries in Who's Who were sent annually to the person to be updated so this could well be accurate.
I had also had the privilege of corresponding with Lady Dorothy Bouchier, who was living in Japan in 2013. She actually sent me a couple of photographs and a nice note - essentially entrusting them to me - I had published those photos in my book on the Westland Wapiti (Boucher was the first CO of No.1 Sqn IAF and raised the first flight) A few other photos taken off the net. 2827 Sgt Alex Calvert and AVM Bouchier 2829 Bouchier with Pilots Photo 2826 - Bouchier's Farewell speech 612005744 o 612005839 o 612005926 o
Wow Jagan great photos. As I say I have a few bits he gave my Grandad just unfortunate that I cant find this damn picture. It's a real cracker. The Zippo I know for sure came from Bouchier to Grandad but whether or not it had anything to do with MacArthur I am unsure for certain ... although makes a good story. They are looking into possibly having my grandads artillery stuff and the Bouchier bits put on loan/display to the RAF Battle of Britain Bunker at Uxbridge. My nan loves all these old photos and said everytime Bouchier saw her he would always let her and her sister play in the garden and have the fruit off the trees. He often used to gift her 5 Shillings every now and again too. I think he gave her 10 Shillings when he returned from Korea
Articles available in the newspaper archives (same collections also available at Find My Past) Using search term Cecil Arthur Bouchier Results for '"cecil arthur bouchier"' | British Newspaper Archive Results for Cecil Bouchier https://www.britishnewspaperarchive...r&retrievecountrycounts=false&sortorder=score
Stumbled over this following a Google search ... not sure I can add anything useful My Father, a Spitfire pilot, was Boucher's PA (if that is the right word ...) in Burma and then later in Kandy, Ceylon - he features in one sentence in Boy Boucher's book . My Father met my Mother there, she was PA to Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick "Boy" Browning. I was based in Japan for a couple of years in the mid 1970's and I went to stay for the weekend on a number of occasions with Boy Boucher and his (second) wife Dorothy and Derek, they were very kind to me. Of course there were many questions I should have asked him, but youth (I was 19 at the time) meant I didn't think to do so. My Father, and his generation, didn't speak of the war but of course now they are all gone I wish I had learned more from them.
