WW1 Armistice Day

Edgar and Arthur Boucher 

Edgar (known as Teddy) Woodward Boucher enlisted in New Zealand’s first military operation in World War 1 in Samoa and died in New Zealand’s bloodiest battle on the Western front of Europe when 846 young New Zealanders were killed in the Battle of Passchendaele. He was the eldest son of Ernest Woodward and Anna Augusta Vercoe Boucher of Westbourne Road, Remuera, born 15 November 1893. His father Ernest who was on the St Aidan’s Church Committee from 1905-06 and the vestry in 1914, was the son of the Rev A. F. Boucher, of Kempsey House, Worcester, England.

Edgar was educated at St John’s School at The Pah in Onehunga from 1900 to 1910 and at Kings College. At school in 1910 as head prefect, he passed the matriculation and solicitors’ general knowledge examination, as well as winning the prize for Character, scholarship, leadership, and athletics. He also won prizes for elocution, Shakespeare and having the best drilled section in the cadet corps. He attended Auckland University College from 1912-1914. Edgar was also a senior cadet at College Rifles for four years in the Territorial Reserve.

Teddy was killed in action at Passchendaele on 12 October 1917. Angela Caughey wrote in her 2005 book about St Aidan’s Church’s history of the community being deeply distraught at the deaths of church members: ‘Teddy’ Boucher, the son of a former vestryman, was killed. People came in large numbers to the special Gallipoli commemoration service, to the Easter services and to Holy Communion. …The dedication of the Edgar W Boucher memorial plaque saw cadets in uniform, carrying handsome silk flags, standing at attention by the memorial, as the bishop unveiled it.” Edgar is also remembered on the Rolls of Honour at Kings College and College Rifles.

Edgar, however, was not the only Boucher son to fall in WW1. His brother Arthur Francis Boucher, born 20 August 1895, was also a Sapper with the New Zealand Engineers, Divisional Signals Company in France but died of pneumonia in England in 1919. Arthur is also remembered on the brass plaque at St Aidan’s Church and on the Rolls of Honour at College Rifles and Kings College. A memorial to Edgar was dedicated at St Aidan’s Church, Remuera by the Bishop of Auckland Dr A W Averill on 1st September 1918, in the form of a Gothic brass, with the following inscription:

Edgar Woodward Boucher A brave soldier who sought God’s grace in the Ministrations of His Church to Help him to live and to do his duty Faithfully to God and King.

He obeyed the call of his country in the first week of the Great War and Fell in Action 12 October 1917 Aged 24 .

Also Arthur Francis Boucher Who died on active service 6 February 1919 Aged 23 .

John Stewart Dagg

John Stewart Dagg was killed at the Battle of the Somme on 15th September 1917. He was the son of Robert and Rosalind Dagg of Ascot Avenue, Remuera, Robert being on the Vestry from 1916-1918. John was a Sunday School teacher at St Aidan’s. When he enlisted on 13 March 1915, he was working as an architect for Leonard Bidwell of Whitianga. On the 31 August 1917 the New Zealand Herald reported: A memorial tablet has been placed in St. Aidan’s Church, Remuera, to the memory of Lieutenant J. S. Dagg, of the 6th, Hauraki, Regiment. It has been erected by the Sunday-school children and church workers, and will be dedicated by the Bishop of Auckland this evening, St. Aidan’s Day.

The tablet, which is of brass, is engraved with the badge of the regiment, the garter star with lion centre, and bears the following inscription:— “Remember John Stewart Dagg, Second Lieutenant, 6th, Hauraki, Regiment, who rendered faithful service to his Church and his King. He fell in the battle of the Somme, 15th September, 1916, aged 25. ‘A good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Erected by Sunday School children and fellow workers.

Henry John Innes Walker

Jack Walker, as he was known, was born on 12 Feb 1890, the eldest son of Henry (1859-1918) and Cecilia Walker (nee Taylor 1868-1942) of ‘Glen Innes’, Victoria Avenue, Remuera. He attended King’s College in Remuera from 1899 to 1909 and St Aidan’s Church in Remuera. He was a professional soldier who joined the British Army and rose to become a captain with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment’s 1st Battalion. Captain Walker, aged 25, was killed in action on the 25th April 1915 in Flanders, Belgium. 100 years later his remains were discovered by Belgian archaeologists – he was identified by a medallion with the initials HJIW which was found in the ground. In April 2018 a burial service was held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s New Irish Farm Cemetery in Belgium for Captain Henry John Innes Walker, Royal Warwickshire Regiment and six unknown soldiers of the First World War. The service was attended by members of Captain Walker’s family, including his great nephews, Allan and Alistair Innes-Walker, who travelled from New Zealand and Australia respectively.

His plaque reads: For God & King And Country Remember Henry John Innes Walker Captain Royal Warwickshire regiment A soldier of that little British Army which in the early days of the Great War so bravely resisted the rush of the German Advance through Belgium. He fell in action April 25 1915 Aged 25 “He lived an upright honest gentleman And died the bravest of Britain’s Sons.