Hunt for ID of Airborne Soldier

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by James Atkinson, Sep 14, 2020.

  1. Good evening all,

    I am trying to find out what I can about this chap, as far as I know or can make out he is part of the 1st Airbourne division possibly because of the North Africa ribbon. Possible RE Airbourne, and a Captain.

    As far as I know his name is Reginald Boucher or Bacher. He was an Essex man and lived around Saffron Walden.

    His picture was shown to be by my mother who has been approached by a relative of this man, who is keen to find out more.

    Thank you in advance
    James
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. Good evening all,

    I am trying to find out what I can about this chap, as far as I know or can make out he is part of the 1st Airbourne division possibly because of the North Africa ribbon. Possible RE Airbourne, and a Captain.

    As far as I know his name is Reginald Boucher or Bacher. He was an Essex man and lived around Saffron Walden.

    His picture was shown to be by my mother who has been approached by a relative of this man, who is keen to find out more.

    Thank you in advance
    James
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    Is that medal ribbon a Military Cross? That might help find him.
     
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  4. That’s a good point , it could well be I shall have a look and see.
     
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  5. I did originally think it was the North Africa Star
     
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  6. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    Don’t think that’s the Africa Star
     
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  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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  8. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    There is a London Gazette entry 6/3/1942 for the Pioneer Corps:
    Link: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35478/supplement/1058/data.pdf

    There is oddly no other military record for that name and number. The name appears in a December 1961 London Gazette when his mother died, with an address in Devon. See: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42551/page/9468/data.pdf

    I found this update on an Army List:
    From: (370) - Army lists > Quarterly Army Lists (Second Series), July 1940-December 1950 > 1945 > Fourth quarter > Part 2 > Volume 1 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland
    Note Surname before Initials. I expect W.S. means Wartime Service and 2/3/42 fits another Army List reference found.

    The January 1943 Army List suggests he became a Major, with the Royal Engineers 12/111/1942: Full text of "Army list"

    In 1958 the British Chess Federation refers to R. B. Copleston in Devon, under Grade 5A on pg.3. See: http://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/pdfs/1958gradinglist.pdf Google indicates there is a photo of him on this, I could not see it: https://www.keverelchess.com/author/bob/page/84/
     
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  9. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Hello James,

    The cap badge in the photo you've posted up does not look like an RE one to me. Hopefully one of the good forum folks with better eyesight than me will be able to identify it, fingers crossed!

    Also, may I ask the source of the photo you posted. Is it from within a publication?

    Good luck with all, kind regards,

    Jim.

    P.S. I was thinking possibly a Canloan officer, but the only surname Boucher I've found was 204 Field Park Company (and he was awarded The MC).
     
  10. Many thanks indeed for your thoughts and research on this I have now found the spelling and it is Beischer.
     
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  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Jim , It's an RE officers flaming bomb cap badge.
    (someone will now tell me that this is a gunners cap badge, something to do with points on the flames. ;) )
     

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  12. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Possibly Reginald Louis Beischer (1910 - 1976) born Hendon, but apparently has connections to Saffron Waldron and Essex. No military details shown but would suggest the relative signs up to Ancestry as there are some family trees.
    Reginald Beischer - Ancestry.com
     
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  13. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Snag with Beischer no trace in The London Gazette or the Army List (just using surname). Could his name have been Anglicised to lessen problems?
     
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  14. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Thanks Owen, much appreciated, the "aye's" have it! (unfortunately not my eyes!)

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
  15. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Do we know it is an MC and therefore a likely entry in the LG or TNA? Would he not also have a theatre star?

    In 1939 there is a Beischer family in Saffron Walden (as per original post), the two female 'children', born in 1909 and 1922 have the same mother's maiden name as Reginald Louis born Q4 1910, as my post #12.

    A Reginald Beischer in 1939 living in Chelmsford, dob 11/9/1910. Looks like he married twice. Reginald's father was a 'German subject'.
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2020
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  16. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

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