WWI DEATH PLAQUE TO JACK AUGUST POUCHOT (YOUNGEST EVER D.C.M. WINNER)

Jack Auguste Pouchot was born on 2 Apr 1899 in St. George's Hanover Square, the son of Auguste Francois and Emily Pouchot, living at 29 Claverton St., City of Westminster. In 1904, Auguste Francois Pouchot bought the tenancy of the Bell Hotel in Leighton Buzzard and two years later took a lease from the owners in the family name. After Auguste and Emily divorced, a young Jack and his mother ran the hotel until a tragic incident on 2 Sep 1911 when Emily suffered severe burns in a fire caused by an exploding oil geyser which covered her face and clothes. On hearing Emily's screams, the barmaid wrapped a table cloth around her and she was escorted to a residence opposite the hotel in flames. The hotel was saved from destruction, but Emily would die of her injuries 5 days later. A young Jack was taken into the care of foster parents, Walter James and Edith Hawkswood of "Tanjore", Canbury Lower Ham Road, Kingston. His foster father survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 whilst on route to become Export Sales Manager for Schweppes.

Jack joined the Queens Westminster Cadets and worked as a cashier in the Army & Navy stores. Lying about his age to join the Queens Westminster Rifles (16th County of London Battalion, London Regiment) in Sep 1914, Jack was posted to France on 1 Nov 1914. In early 1915, Jack appeared in the North Bucks Times when his letter home to his grandmother was printed. On the morning of 8 Jan 1915, just as it was getting light, Corporal Richard de Rupe Roche was shot as he was crossing the open to get some water from his gun. He was not missed until daylight when he was seen lying in the open in rear of the trench and in full view of the enemy, who was not more than a hundred and twenty yards away. It was practically certain death to attempt to reach him, but two very gallant men, Rifleman P.H.A. Tibbs, a stretcher-bearer, and Rifleman Pouchot of No.2 Company crawled out to him. As soon as they were seen, the enemy opened fire on them, but both men went on and succeeded in reaching Corporal Roche, who was found to be dead. Rifleman Tibbs was killed as he was kneeling over his body, but Rifleman Pouchot, who saw that both men were beyond help, managed to get back to our lines untouched. He was awarded the D.C.M. for his bravery on this occasion and thus won the first decoration gained by his battalion. Aged 15, he was the youngest ever recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, receiving his award in Richmond Park. A temporary grave marker for Roche is displayed by the Imperial War Museum, London.

After a period at home with severe jaundice and exhaustion, Jack joined the Royal Flying Corps, commissioned on 5 Sep 1917 and posted to 56th Squadron. On 27 Sep 1918, Jack was flying with 9 other aircraft when they encountered and engaged the enemy. The attack was highly successful and Jack completed the combat report, claiming he had shot down two enemy aircraft. A month later whilst flying on 5 Oct 1918, Jack was shot down, last seen going down behind the Hun side of the line, 'his machine being quite under control, it is believed that something must have hit his engine and forced him to land.' The aircraft wreckage was found by advancing British troops and from the name on his clothing, Jack Auguste Pouchot was identified. He is buried at Marcoing British Cemetery, where his former comrades Corporal Roche and Rifleman Tibbs are buried side-by-side.

Leighton Buzzard Town Council feature Jack Pouchot on their Living History Trail and, in May 2018, 100 years after his death, Westminster City School opened the Jack Pouchot Building, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Edward The Duke of Kent. The building, which stands in the centre of the £1 billion transformation of the Victoria area, provides a range of art, drama and multi-purpose teaching spaces for Westminster pupils and cadets.