Promenading at Ninety



By Lloyd H. Jameson

Grand Publicist of Michigan



The oldest living Voyageur is claimed by Detroit Voiture 102 in the person of John William Boucher, veteran of the Civil War and World War, who celebrated his ninetieth birthday December 18, 1934.



Born in Port Maitland, Ontario, in 1844, Boucher left his home to enlist in the Union Army across the border during the Civil War. He tried at Buffalo, and then Cleveland and was finally accepted at Detroit where he became a member of the 24th Michigan Infantry. After the Civil War he returned to Canada where he was residing when the Dominion entered the World War in 1914.



Boucher comes of a military family dating back to the days of William IV of England. His mother was born in Bombay, India, and his father in South Africa, both being children of army officers of the British service. The call to arms ran strong in his blood and he tried three times to enlist in the Canadian Army, each time in a different place. Finally the age limit was increased and he presented himself to the recruiting officer of the 257th Railroad Construction Battalion, telling him that he was "past 48." He was accepted and three weeks later he was in England. Earlier employment by the Union Pacific had made him familiar with railroad work.



After a short period of training in England the outfit was sent to France where Boucher served for ten months, a good part of the time at or near an active front. One of his favorite stories of his World War service is regarding an incident near Ypres, France, in 1917, when he was with the Queens College Battery. "The French village," he says, "had been mined by the enemy. One of the members of our group found a piano in an abandoned hut and began playing it. Each key he struck set off a mine at some distant point. He finally struck a certain chord which set off a mine in the hut, killing himself and 16 other men."



Because of his apparent age Boucher was favored somewhat by his comrades, who called him "Dad" but he emphatically states that "I never shirked a detail" and those who know him do not doubt it. One day, however, he ran up against an officer who did not know him. Boucher had just performed a bit of rigorous duty, without too much food or sleep and perhaps he looked his seventy odd years more that day. Anyway he was ordered home and he soon found himself in England.



The canon at St. Paul's Cathedral sent for him and promised an audience with the King which was duly arranged through Lord Stanfordham, private secretary to King George. Boucher loves to tell the story of a cigar presented to him by the King, how he tried to put it in his pocket for a souvenir, and how the King "told me to light up with him." Before he was through he also met the Queen and Princess Mary.



After his return to Canada, Boucher came to the United States and toured the country on behalf of the fourth and fifth Liberty Loan drives. He made twenty-seven talks in three days at Nashville, Tennessee, where he has spent seven days behind a fortification in one of the battles of the Civil War. On March 15, 1920, he resumed his United States citizenship by petition to the Supreme Court of Onondaga County, New York.



Voyageur Boucher dates his membership in the American Legion from 1919 when he joined a Post at Syracuse, New York. A part of the time since the war he resided in Florida, and while in Miami became a member of the famous Harvey Seeds Post, which held the National Drum and Bugle Corps Championship for a number of years. In 1932 he came to Detroit to reside with his daughter and immediately became a member of the Bearl V. Pittenger Post which he has continued. He dates his membership in the Forty and Eight from February 21, 1935, when he was duly elected to membership in Detroit Voiture 102.



Bright of eye and firm of step, although a little slow, Boucher never misses a parade and rarely misses a Post meeting. Clear of mind, he is ever ready to get on his feet and talk. His Post presented him with a Legion uniform on his last birthday.



It is with pride that Voiture 102 points to its newest member, and asks for a contest of its claim of the oldest Voyageur in point of years in the country.



The Forty and Eighter, April 1935, p. 13



the above article was provided by Shawn Bohannon (#47062096)



Sapper Canadian Army CEF



John enlisted as a Private in Company U, Michigan 24th Infantry Regiment on 01 Sep 1864 at Springwells, Michigan

Mustered out receiving a disability discharge from Company U, 24th Infantry Regiment Michigan on 26 Oct 1864 at Jackson, Michigan



1910 John and his Daughter Gertrude and Leslie Acton are living in Chicago, Illinios



1930 They are living in Miami, Florida



Children: Gertrude Eleanor(Leslie Robert)Acton(married 1904)



Parents: father born in England and mother India



Burial: 3 Mar 1939

Promenading at Ninety



By Lloyd H. Jameson

Grand Publicist of Michigan



The oldest living Voyageur is claimed by Detroit Voiture 102 in the person of John William Boucher, veteran of the Civil War and World War, who celebrated his ninetieth birthday December 18, 1934.



Born in Port Maitland, Ontario, in 1844, Boucher left his home to enlist in the Union Army across the border during the Civil War. He tried at Buffalo, and then Cleveland and was finally accepted at Detroit where he became a member of the 24th Michigan Infantry. After the Civil War he returned to Canada where he was residing when the Dominion entered the World War in 1914.



Boucher comes of a military family dating back to the days of William IV of England. His mother was born in Bombay, India, and his father in South Africa, both being children of army officers of the British service. The call to arms ran strong in his blood and he tried three times to enlist in the Canadian Army, each time in a different place. Finally the age limit was increased and he presented himself to the recruiting officer of the 257th Railroad Construction Battalion, telling him that he was "past 48." He was accepted and three weeks later he was in England. Earlier employment by the Union Pacific had made him familiar with railroad work.



After a short period of training in England the outfit was sent to France where Boucher served for ten months, a good part of the time at or near an active front. One of his favorite stories of his World War service is regarding an incident near Ypres, France, in 1917, when he was with the Queens College Battery. "The French village," he says, "had been mined by the enemy. One of the members of our group found a piano in an abandoned hut and began playing it. Each key he struck set off a mine at some distant point. He finally struck a certain chord which set off a mine in the hut, killing himself and 16 other men."



Because of his apparent age Boucher was favored somewhat by his comrades, who called him "Dad" but he emphatically states that "I never shirked a detail" and those who know him do not doubt it. One day, however, he ran up against an officer who did not know him. Boucher had just performed a bit of rigorous duty, without too much food or sleep and perhaps he looked his seventy odd years more that day. Anyway he was ordered home and he soon found himself in England.



The canon at St. Paul's Cathedral sent for him and promised an audience with the King which was duly arranged through Lord Stanfordham, private secretary to King George. Boucher loves to tell the story of a cigar presented to him by the King, how he tried to put it in his pocket for a souvenir, and how the King "told me to light up with him." Before he was through he also met the Queen and Princess Mary.



After his return to Canada, Boucher came to the United States and toured the country on behalf of the fourth and fifth Liberty Loan drives. He made twenty-seven talks in three days at Nashville, Tennessee, where he has spent seven days behind a fortification in one of the battles of the Civil War. On March 15, 1920, he resumed his United States citizenship by petition to the Supreme Court of Onondaga County, New York.



Voyageur Boucher dates his membership in the American Legion from 1919 when he joined a Post at Syracuse, New York. A part of the time since the war he resided in Florida, and while in Miami became a member of the famous Harvey Seeds Post, which held the National Drum and Bugle Corps Championship for a number of years. In 1932 he came to Detroit to reside with his daughter and immediately became a member of the Bearl V. Pittenger Post which he has continued. He dates his membership in the Forty and Eight from February 21, 1935, when he was duly elected to membership in Detroit Voiture 102.



Bright of eye and firm of step, although a little slow, Boucher never misses a parade and rarely misses a Post meeting. Clear of mind, he is ever ready to get on his feet and talk. His Post presented him with a Legion uniform on his last birthday.



It is with pride that Voiture 102 points to its newest member, and asks for a contest of its claim of the oldest Voyageur in point of years in the country.



The Forty and Eighter, April 1935, p. 13



the above article was provided by Shawn Bohannon (#47062096)



Sapper Canadian Army CEF



John enlisted as a Private in Company U, Michigan 24th Infantry Regiment on 01 Sep 1864 at Springwells, Michigan

Mustered out receiving a disability discharge from Company U, 24th Infantry Regiment Michigan on 26 Oct 1864 at Jackson, Michigan



1910 John and his Daughter Gertrude and Leslie Acton are living in Chicago, Illinios



1930 They are living in Miami, Florida



Children: Gertrude Eleanor(Leslie Robert)Acton(married 1904)



Parents: father born in England and mother India



Burial: 3 Mar 1939