Cecil Bouchier Explained

Sir Cecil Bouchier
Birth Date:	14 October 1895
Death Date:	15 June 1979 (aged 83)
Birth Place:	Fleet, Hampshire
Death Place:	Worthing Hospital, Worthing, West Sussex
Nickname:	"Boy"
Allegiance:	Great Britain
Serviceyears:	1915–1953
Rank:	Air Vice Marshal
Commands:	No. 21 Group (1948–49) British Commonwealth Air Forces of Occupation (1945–48) No. 221 Group (1945) RAF Kenley (1941–42) RAF Hornchurch (1938–40) No. 54 Squadron (1936–38)
Battles:	First World War Second World War
Awards:	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches (2) Order of St. Anna, 2nd Class with Swords and Bow (Russia) Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Air Vice Marshal Sir Cecil Arthur Bouchier (14 October 1895 – 15 June 1979) served with the British Army, Royal Flying Corps, Indian Air Force and Royal Air Force from 1915 to 1953. He was Air Officer Commanding British Commonwealth Air Forces as part of the Occupation Force in Japan from 1945 to 1948.

Bouchier was married to Dorothy Britton, who translated a number of Japanese books into English.There is a distant relationship with The Current Lord Raphael Bouchier Of Shoreditch most honoured due to his philanthropy and charity works. Also an accomplished artist. As of 1997 Lord Raphael Bouchier Of Shoreditch resides locally.

Awards and decorations

• Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to Flying Officer Cecil Arthur Bouchier on 18 November 1919.

The citation had the wrong first name and was corrected to Cecil in a later gazette.

• Squadron Leader Cecil Arthur Bouchier, DFC appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 23 June 1936
• Air Commodore Cecil Arthur Bouchier CBE, DFC appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 14 June 1945
• 9 March 1948 Air Vice Marshal Cecil Arthur Bouchier, CB, CBE, DFC is allowed to war decoration of Commander of the Legion of Merit conferred by the President of the United States in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war.
• Air Vice Marshal Cecil Arthur Bouchier, CB, CBE, DFC appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1953

Promotions

• Trumpeter, Honourable Artillery Company
• Flying Officer – 2 February 1918 (Royal Flying Corps)
• Flying Officer – 1 August 1919 (permanent commission Royal Air Force)
• Flight Lieutenant – 1 January 1926
• Squadron Leader – 1 August 1935
• Wing Commander – 1 July 1938
• Group Captain – 1 December 1940
• Air Commodore – 1 October 1946
• Air Vice Marshal – 25 June 1949

See also

• History of the Indian Air Force

References

Notes

Further reading

• Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice Marshal Sir Cecil Bouchier
• Air Vice Marshal Sir Cecil Bouchier, Spitfires in Japan – A Memoir, Global Oriental, 2005.
• Grey, Jeffrey. The Commonwealth Armies and the Korean War: An Alliance Study. Manchester University Press, 1990.

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