Charles Victor Tucker was born in 1892 at Bristol, in Gloucestershire, the sixth of eight children to James Ennis Tucker, a labourer, and Emily Hannah Tucker (formerly Lester). He was baptised on 9 November, 1892, at St. Clement's Church, in Bristol, when the family lived at 37 Hill Street. He had four brothers and three sisters: William James (1881); Rosina Emily (1883); Mabel Edith Elizabeth (1885); Frederick George J. (1887); Elizabeth Maud (1889); Alfred Ernest (1895); and Albert Oliver (1897).

In 1891 the family lived at 22 Hill Street, in Bristol, when the father was employed as a slate man, and ten years later they were living at 42 St. Lawrence Street, with father then employed as a cab driver.

In 1897 they were living at 1 Clement's Street, in St. Paul's, and by 1911 they lived at 41 Mogg Street, in St, Werburgh's, Bristol, with the father employed as a stableman.

By 1911 Charles Victor Tucker was employed as a collier's boy (underground), in South Wales, living at 62 Park Road in Gelligaer, Merthyr Tydfil. He was unmarried.

Charles Victor Tucker's service record has not survived, and what is known has been extrapolated from other sources.

He enlisted at Gosport, in Hampshire, about September, 1915, joining the Gloucestershire Regiment, as a Private, no. 22722. He was posted to the 12th (Service) (Bristol) Battalion. The battalion was raised at Bristol by the Citizens' Recruiting Committee in August, 1914. In June, 1915, it moved to Wensley Dale, joining the 95th Brigade in the 32nd Division. In August, 1915, it moved to Salisbury Plain.

The 12th Battalion landed in France in November, 1915, and in the December the brigade transferred to the 5th Division. Charles Victor did not join it until January, 1916, by virtue of the fact the he did not qualify for the 1914-15 Star. He probably joined the battalion on 15 January, in a draft of 30 other ranks, or on 22 January in a draft of 20 other ranks, when the battalion was resting in billets at Allonville.

The next month the battalion moved to billets at Riencourt, and at the end of the month to Berteaucourt. It then moved to Hem and finally to Grand Rullecourt.

On 3 March it took over the Reout Line, at St, Nicholas, from a French unit, and rotated between the line and the supports with the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. It suffered a few casualties in an otherwise quiet sector. It then moved into billets at Agnes les Duisans on 16 March until 21 March when it relieved the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment at St, Nicholas.

An indication of Private Charles Victor Tucker's service is obtained from the admissions ledger for the 14th Field Ambulance, to which he was admitted on 21 March, 1916, suffering from inflammation of the connective tissue on the right hand. It recorded that he was a member of 'C' Company, 22 years of age, had been in the service for six months, and in the field for three months. He was transferred to the No. 42 Casualty Clearing Station the same day.

On his return to duty he did not re-join the 12th Battalion, but was sent to the 1st Battalion, which belonged to the 3rd Brigade in the 1st Division. He may have been in a draft of 39 men who joined on 4 April.

The battalion was deployed at that time in the Loos sector, and in May at Maroc.

The battalion moved to the Somme front at the end of the first week of July, 1916, and moved into the line on 14 July, at Contalmaison, and was immediately engaged in the offensive.

After one week the battalion moved back to Albert, and then to Millencourt at the end of the month.

It moved back to the front in mid-August, moving into Railway Copse and Back Wood, being subjected to heavy shelling, before returning to Albert at the end of the month.

On 2 September the battalion relieved a battalion of the Black Watch in the Quadrangle Trench.

At noon on 8 September, 1916, the battalion left Bazentin-Le-Grand for the trenches in High Wood to mount an attack. Half an hour later, while passing down Black Watch Trench it was heavily shelled, causing many casualties. Owing to the continuous shelling of Fire Trench the battalion was unable to occupy the assembly trenches.

At 1.35 pm the battalion was able to move forward a short distance. However, at 2.05 pm friendly guns were still firing short, and shelling their own lines. It was not until 4.10 pm that the battalion could move forward and get into position. Between 4.50-6.00 pm there was a steady bombardment by all guns, including trench mortars, Stokes mortars and machine guns. At 5.45 pm the Germans flamenwerfers were fired, blowing fire over the men. 

Just after 6,00 pm the attack was launched, with 'A' and 'B' Companies in the first line, and 'C' and 'D' Companies in the second line, against heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire. 'A' Company gained its objective, but owing to casualties had to fall back to the German first line. 'B' and 'D' Companies, finding the enemy in the trench they attacked, drove them out, and held the trench. 'A' Company commenced consolidating the first line.

At 7.40 pm a message was sent back, demanding reinforcements, but none were to be had, without which the trench could not be held. At 7.45 pm, a review of the situation led to a withdrawal to New Trench, and by 9.50 pm the companies had re-occupied the former line.

The battalion was shelled during the night and the next day was relieved and returned to Quadrangle Trench. The battalion had suffered 2 officers and 40 other ranks killed; 8 officers and 128 other ranks wounded; and 1 officer and 44 other ranks missing: 2 officers died of wounds.

One of those killed or missing at High Wood, was Private Charles Victor Tucker whose date of death on his entry in the Soldiers' Effects list was given as 8/9 September, 1916, and otherwise as 9 September, clearly based on the roll taken after the battalion was relieved. He was aged 24.

Having no known grave, Private Charles Victor Tucker is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, on the Somme, in France. His name has not been identified on any local war memorial.

Charles Victor Tucker's service earned him the British War Medal, 1914-20; and Victory Medal, 1914-19.