Tucker, John Edward (Private, b.c.1898 - d.1918)

Collection relating to the First World War service of 3761 Private John Edward Tucker, 45th Battalion, France, 1918. Tucker served for a year, before he was killed in France on 17 August 1918. The collection includes six letters of condolence; there are both personal and official letters. A Red Cross letter to Mrs M Tucker (mother) includes a statement made by returned soldier Private A.A. McMillan: ‘We were advancing from Pozieres. I did not see Tucker killed, but one of my mates, L/Corporal Whelan, was buried alongside of him. I went one evening to see Whelan’s grave. About five of our men were buried there, including Tucker. They were brought back from the front-line. The place of burial was known as the Canteen dug-out. Tucker was one of the gun team. He was a popular man in the Company (D. Company). Aged about 24, height about 5ft.7”, fair complexion.’ Tucker was in fact a few years younger when he was killed, he would have been around 20, having enlisted in February 1917, at 18 ½ years. A letter written by 2913 Sergeant James Edward Golden, dated 21 January 1919, says that Tucker was killed while on watch: ‘a bullet passed right through his steel helmet … he had a pocket watch, Rosary Beads, cigarette case and a few other small items … as near as I can remember it was a Sunday poor Johnny was killed.’