Ralph Tucker was born in 1898 at Meare, near Westhay, in Somersetshire, the ninth of ten known children to Edwin Tucker, a farmer, and Mary Tucker (formerly Brown). He had four sisters and five brothers: Fanny (1886); George Shervey (1887); Herbert (1888); Elsie (1890); Mabel (1891, who died the following year); Henry (1893); John (1895); Merson (1896); and Mabel (1899).

In 1901, the family was living at Westhay in Meare, West Somerset, and by 1911 at Hunting Butts Farm in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. They later lived at Churcham House, in Churcham, Gloucestershire.

Ralph remained unmarried. 

[His brother, Merson, served as a private in the Gloucestershire Regiment and was taken prisoner of war during World War One. His brother, John, served as a corporal in the Royal West Kent Regiment and was killed in action in March 1918.]

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

He initially enlisted at Gloucester, joining the Gloucestershire Regiment as a private, number 51730.

He was posted to the 1st Battalion, in France, which he will have joined in a draft of reinforcements. By virtue of the fact that he did not qualify for the 1914-15 Star, he did not proceed overseas until 1916 onwards. The 1st Battalion had been in France since August, 1914, and was part of the 3rd Brigade in the 1st Division.

At some point he was transferred to the Worcestershire Regiment, as a private, with the number 43328. This could have been the result of him having been wounded and returned to England, following which he joined a new regiment, or as the result of reorganisation. He joined the 1st Battalion, which had been in France since November, 1914, and from July, 1916, had been part of the 24th Brigade in the 8th Division.

By September 1918, the 1st Battalion was in the front line in the Oppy sector, suffering a trickle of casualties each day, and similarly receiving a few replacements.

On 30 September, the battalion moved to Neuville St. Vaast and occupied the 'Cellar Camp'.

Between 1-6 October, the battalion occupied the line south of Oppy and on 7 October, carried out an operation to continue the advance. In the operation the battalion captured 11 machine guns and 36 prisoners, for a cost of one other rank killed and two officers and 16 other ranks wounded.

On 9 October, the battalion withdrew, but went forward the next day and occupied the Fresnes Ruvroy Line.

On 12 October, the battalion moved forward to a railway cutting from La Motte to Beaumont.

At 2.00 pm on 13 October, the battalion dribbled forward and the village of Flers was made good and the roads leading eastwards were picqueted. The battalion then moved forward to Haute Deule Canal and captured positions on the canal bank.

However, at dawn on 14 October, the enemy came across the canal under a heavy barrage of machine gun and mortar fire, forcing the companies which had advanced to retire, suffering heavy casualties in the process. The battalion suffered one officer killed, 2 wounded and 2 missing, whilst 10 other ranks were killed, 31 wounded and 56 missing.

Ralph Tucker was killed in action at Quierry La Motte on 14 October, 1918. He was aged 20. He was initially buried at a battlefield site, but later exhumed and reburied.

Ralph Tucker now lies buried at Douai British Cemetery in France, with his grave marked by a CWGC headstone.

He is also commemorated on the memorial within St. Andrew’s Church at Churcham, in Gloucestershire, together with his brother John.