Wacher G G Sergt 517 16th London Regiment
WACHER, GEOFFREY GIBBINGS, Sergt., No. 517, 1/16th Battn. (Queen’s Westminster Rifles), The London Regt. (T.F.), yst. s. of the late Alfred Wacher, of the Anchor Brewery, Bermondsey, S.E., and Herne Bay, by his wife, Lucy Durant, dau. of Henry Gibbings, of North Tawnton, Devon; b. Bermondsey, 25 April, 1891; educ. St. Anne’s School, Redhill, Surrey; was for some years in the employ of Chas. Morgan & Co., Paper Manufacturers, London; joined the Queen’s Westminsters, 22 Jan. 1909; volunteered for Imperial Service, Aug. 1914, and left for France, as Corpl. 1 Nov. 1914; promoted Sergt. June, 1915, and placed in charge of the machine-gun section, to which he had been transferred in Jan.; and was killed in action 9 Aug. following; unm. The Queen’s Westminsters were in support during the attack on Hooge on 9 Aug., and, after this had proved successful, occupied the first line trenches. During the severe bombardment by the enemy’s artillery which followed, our men took refuge in dug-out There were a large number of casualties, and Sergt. Wacher gave up his place of safety to some wounded men, and a few minutes later was killed by a shell. He had done valuable work with his battn. before war broke out, during its period of training, and more especially at the Front.
One of his officers wrote: “He was one of the most popular fellows in the battn. among all ranks, and his loss is considered a regimental catastrophe”; and another wrote: “Ever since he went to the guns he had done excellent work as well as winning the affections of all the section.” He had been recommended for a commission by his Commanding Officer, and expected to return to England any day to take up his new duties, but owing to the heavy fighting could not be spared. An elder brother, Lieut. Walter Ronald Wacher, is (1916) on active service with the 2nd Royal Berkshires.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1