William John Tucker was born on 24 June, 1899, at Bristol in Gloucestershire, the third of four known children to Job Tucker, a carter and bargeman, and Mary Ann Tucker (formerly Clark). He was baptised on 16 July, 1899, at St. Philip and St. Jacob’s Church in Bristol. He had two brothers and one sister: George Cooper (1888); Rosina (1890); and Frederick James (1905).

In 1891 the family had lived at 5 Cumberland Buildings, in St. Phillips, Bristol, however, the family have not been traced in 1901.

By 1911 the mother, William and Frederick, were living at 200 East Road in Tylorstown in the Rhondda Valley, Glamorganshire. The family later returned to Bristol, living at Oxford Road, in St. Philips, before moving to 26 Union Road. William John Tucker remained unmarried.

[His brother, George Copper, served as a private with the 14th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, but was discharged due to sickness without serving overseas.]

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

He enlisted at Bristol, most likely having been conscripted on reaching 18 years of age in 1917. He joined the 52nd (Graduated) Battalion, of the Hampshire Regiment, as a private, number TR/8/24951.

After training he was posted to France, where he joined the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a private, and with the new number, 34762, although at some point he also had the number 27663. The battalion had been in France since August, 1914, and was part of the 5th Brigade in the 2nd Division.

At the start of September, 1918, the battalion was resting in the Courcelles area and moved to bivouacs northwest of Vauex-Vracourt. It then moved forward to Morchies and then into the front line on 8 September.

On 9 September Demicourt was heavily shelled, the area occupied by ‘A’ Company, and the reserve company area, with gas. The battalion suffered 3 wounded and 40 gassed.

The battalion attacked across the Canal Du Nord on 11 September, suffering 2 officers wounded, and 11 other ranks killed, 52 wounded, 5 missing and 3 gassed. The attacks were continued the next day against heavy machine gun and artillery fire, leading to a further 5 other ranks killed, 5 wounded, 2 missing and 4 gassed.

The battalion was relieved on 13 September and marched to billets at Morchies, and then to Gomiecourt, where training and tactical exercises were carried out.

On 26 September the battalion returned to the forward area by the reverse route, and reached the Canal Du Nord the next day. It then moved forward into trenches on 28 September, and further forward the next day, preparatory to making an attack on 1 October.

The enemy was holding a line from Romilly – Mt Sur L’Oeuvres – Faubourg de Paris. The battalion was ordered to clear the ground between Marcoing Switch Trench and a ridge. Zero hour was 06.00 hours with little enemy fire, but casualties were caused by their own artillery shells falling short.

The battalion advanced some 400-500 yards, but owing to the large frontage to be occupied and losses, the companies were forced to dig in. They then remained in those positions during the rest of the day, with any movement attracting enemy artillery fire. William John Tucker was wounded during this period, and evacuated back to hospital at Etaples.

It is possible he had been wounded during the actions on 11-12 September, or, just as likely, on 1 October. He died of wounds in hospital at Etaples on 6 October, 1918. He was aged 19.