Harry Waechter

{{Short description|British businessman and philanthropist (1871–1929)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}

Sir Harry Sedan Waechter, 1st Baronet {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CMG|DL}} (6 June 1871 – 20 May 1929) was a British businessman and philanthropist.

The only son of Sir Max Waechter,Obituary, The Times, 22 May 1929, p. 10, column D Harry Sedan Waechter was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and educated at Clifton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.{{acad|id=WCTR889HS|name=Waechter, Harry Sedan}} started developing the garden, "Ramsnest" (now "Ramster") near Chiddingfold, Surrey, which he purchased sometime between 1890 and 1900.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) He also owned property in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (present-day Harare, Zimbabwe). He was made a partner in Bessler, Waechter & Co. in 1901.Times 6 February 1901, p. 11, column E Waechter was appointed a deputy lieutenant of the County of London in September 1909.{{London Gazette|issue=28290|page=7049|date=21 September 1909}}

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."Times 2 January 1911; Page 10 "New Years Honours" In 1907, he instituted a Band Competition,{{cite web|url=http://www.haslemeretownband.org.uk/history.htm|title=History|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050914000043/http://www.haslemeretownband.org.uk/history.htm|archivedate=14 September 2005}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/england/content/ground/57016.html|title=Woodbridge Road | England | Cricket Grounds|website=Content-usa.cricinfo.com|accessdate=17 October 2016}}

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.{{London Gazette|issue=31094|date=1 January 1919|page=64|supp=y}}