Ernest Tucker was born in 1894 at Tredegar, in Glamorganshire, Wales, one of twelve known children to George Tucker, a boot maker, and Catherine (Katy) Tucker (formerly Holland).

Ten of his brothers and sisters have been identified: James (1885); John (1885); Thomas (1886, who died the same year); Catherine (Kate) (1889); Arthur (1890, who had died before 1899); George (1892); Margaret Jane (1896, who died the same year); Alice Mary (1898, who died the same year); Arthur (1899); and Patrick Joseph (1909).

In 1891, the family was living at 14 Pennywell Road in St. Philip’s. Bristol, with the father employed as a shoe maker.

Ten years later, they were living at 12 Duffryn Street, in St. Mary’s, Cardiff. The father was then described as a boot maker.

By 1911, the family was living at 2 Thomas Court in Ellen Street, Newtown, Cardiff, by which time the father was working as a boot riveter for a boot dealer. The 16-year-old Ernest was then employed as an errand boy at a grocer’s shop.

The family continued to live at 2 Thomas Court, later 23 Ellen Street. Ernest became a rope maker, and remained unmarried. [Ernest’s brother George served as a stoker in the Royal Navy during World War One.]

Ernest Tucker’s service record has not survived, and what is known has been extrapolated from other sources.

He enlisted at Cardiff in 1915, and joined the Welsh Regiment as a private, number 27635. The only battalion he appears to have served with was the 18th (Service) (2nd Glamorgan) Battalion.

The battalion was raised in January, 1915, as a Bantam Battalion and went to Portrhcawl attached to the 43rd Division.

In July, 1915, it went to Prees Heath as part of the 119th Brigade in the 40th Division, and moved to Aldershot in September, 1915.

It landed in France in June, 1916. It concentrated near Lillers before going into the front line near Loos, and later took part in the Battle of the Ancre on the Somme.

During 1917, it took part in the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, Villers Plouich, Beaucamp and La Vacquerie, and later operations at Cambrai.

During 1918, it fought at St. Quentin and the Battle of Bapaume.

At some point Ernest Tucker was wounded, and latterly he was attached to the 119th Brigade Headquarters. He was back home in Wales on leave when he was taken ill with influenza. That developed into pneumonia and he was admitted to the 3rd Western General Hospital, in Albany Road, Cardiff, where he died of pneumonia on 28 October, 1918. He was aged 24.

Ernest Tucker lies buried at Cathays Cemetery, in Cardiff, with his grave marked by a CWGC headstone, which additionally inscribed: IN LOVING MEMORY OF ERNEST / SON OF / GEORGE AND CATHERINE TUCKER / R.I.P.

His name had not been identified on any local war memorial.