Harry Waechter

Sir Harry Sedan Waechter, 1st Baronet CMG DL (6 June 1871 – 20 May 1929) was a British businessman and philanthropist.

The only son of Sir Max Waechter,[1] Harry Sedan Waechter was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and educated at Clifton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.[2] started developing the garden, "Ramsnest" (now "Ramster") near Chiddingfold, Surrey, which he purchased sometime between 1890 and 1900.[3] He also owned property in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (present-day Harare, Zimbabwe). He was made a partner in Bessler, Waechter & Co. in 1901.[4] Waechter was appointed a deputy lieutenant of the County of London in September 1909.[5]

He was raised to the Baronetage in the 1911 New Year Honours. He is described in The Times article as "Henry Waechter, Esq, Managing Director of the firm of Bessler, Waechter and Co. Limited, Shippers and Ship owners of which Sir Max Waechter is Chairman. Has given generous support to the Territorial Force and Cadet Corps in Surrey. High Sheriff of Surrey in 1910 and Master of the Chiddingfold Foxhounds."[6] In 1907, he instituted a Band Competition,[7] held at Ramsnest.

In 1912, he gave land in Woodbridge Road, Guildford to Guildford Borough Council, in trust, with cricket included in the objects of the Trust. This land is now the home of Guildford Cricket Club.[8]

He served in World War I (1914–1918) in France and in Italy he received the Croix de Guerre. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1919 New Year Honours for his efforts during the First World War.[9]

Family

He married Evelyn Mary Josephine d'Arcy (died 1955), daughter of John d'Arcy, in 1911. D’Arcy was an early member of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, an all female volunteer Corps, formed in 1907 as a mounted unit to rescue wounded soldiers from the battlefield. Based in London, the FANY used Chiddingfold for some early training camps. The couple had two sons and a daughter. They divorced on 15 December 1923.[1]

Death

Lord Waechter died in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (present-day Harare, Zimbabwe) on 20 May 1929, shortly before his 58th birthday.[1] He was succeeded as Baronet by his son, Harry Leonard d'Arcy Waechter (born 22 May 1912–died 10 January 1985). The baronetcy became extinct upon the latter's death, in 1985.

References
  1. Obituary, The Times, 22 May 1929, p. 10, column D
  2. "Waechter, Harry Sedan (WCTR889HS)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. Coloured brochure for Ramsnest (on sale May 2006) – both 1890 and 1900 are given as dates for the purchase. It is a puzzle in that the brochure says Ramsnest was sold to the Normans in 1922 but Sir Harry gave Ramsnest as his address in his last Who's Who entry (1929)
  4. Times 6 February 1901, p. 11, column E
  5. "No. 28290". The London Gazette. 21 September 1909. p. 7049.
  6. Times 2 January 1911; Page 10 "New Years Honours"
  7. "History". Archived from the original on 14 September 2005.
  8. "Woodbridge Road | England | Cricket Grounds". Content-usa.cricinfo.com. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  9. "No. 31094". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1919. p. 64.
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