William Tucker's birth was registered in the first quarter of 1879, in Lambeth, Surrey, and he was the youngest of six known children to James Tucker, a labourer in an ironworks, and Sarah Ann Tucker (formerly Cook). He had four brothers and one sister: Matilda (867); James (1872); Joseph (1875); George (1878); and Alfred (1884).

By 1881 the family was living at Heman Street, in Lambeth, and the father died in 1886. Thereafter, the family appears to have dispersed.

In 1891 the mother and youngest son were found to be in Lumly, in Lincolnshire, whilst the eldest children were either in service or residential schools: William was a scholar at the Lambeth New School.

By 1894 William Tucker was living at 21 Thorne Street, in Wandsworth, Surrey, employed as a metal polisher with the firm of Sugg & Co, in Regency Street, Wandsworth.

He then attested to serve with the Militia, followed by enlistment in the Army.

On his release to the Army Reserve in 1902 William Tucker returned to London, where he married Florence Raymen, in the Paddington district, in 1908. Interestingly he gave his full name as William Lever Tucker.

By 1911 they had had two children who had sadly died: they were then living at 4 Risinghill Street, in Islington, with William employed as a servant with the Metropolitan District Railway Department. They were to have two further children, Arthur Leslie (1911) and Lilian (1914).

When he re-enlisted the family was living at 87 Wick Road in Homerton, London.

After his death his widow remarried in 1920, becoming Florence Wilson. His widow was the recipient of his soldier's effects, and initially claimed a pension.

In 1892 his mother had re-married, becoming Sarah Ann Clist. Having become widowed again, and her daughter-in-law having remarried, in 1924 his mother submitted a claim for a pension. She was then living at St. Aubin's, in Devonshire Road, Merton, in Surrey.

William Tucker attested on 21 November, 1894, at London, in the 4th (Militia) Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment, as a Private no. 8418. He claimed to be aged 17 years and 10 months, when in fact his true age was about 15 years and 10 months. He was described as being: 5' 4¼" tall; with auburn hair; blue eyes; a fair complexion; weighing 115 lbs; and with a chest measurement of 32½"/34½". He had a scar on his forehead and on his left forearm.

Just two months later, on 11 January, 1895, William Tucker attested for the Regular Army, enlisting at London in the West Riding Regiment, as a Private, no. 4527. He claimed he was 18 years of age but was only 16. He was described as being: 5' 5¼" tall; with sandy hair; blue eyes; a fair complexion; weighing 119 lbs; and with a chest measurement of 33"/35". He had a scar on his forehead and on his left forearm.

He joined the 1st Battalion and served at home until 30 November, 1895, when the battalion was posted to Malta. Whilst he was in Malta he was awarded 10 days imprisonment on 18 May, 1898, for drunkenness and using improper language.

He returned home after three years in Malta, until 29 December, 1899, when the battalion was deployed to South Africa to serve in the Boer War.

The battalion took part in the relief of Kimberley, and fought at the battles of Paardeberg and Driefontein, and thereafter served in the Transvaal.

William Tucker returned to England in October, 1902, and was released to the Army Reserve on 10 October, 1902. He was discharged on 10 January, 1907, at the end of his 12-year engagement.

This period of service had earned him the Queen's South Africa Medal and King's South Africa Medal.

William Tucker's World War One service record has not survived and what is known has been extrapolated from other sources.

He re-enlisted at Southwark, in Surrey, in the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), as a Private, no. 3/13006, and joined the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion. In 1915 the battalion was stationed at North Shields, where it formed part of the Tyne Garrison. By virtue of the fact that he did not qualify for the 1914-15 Star, Private Tucker did not proceed overseas until 1916, when he was posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's.

The 2nd Battalion had been in France and Flanders since August, 1914, as part of the 13th Brigade in the 4th Division, and transferred to the 12th Brigade in January, 1916.

The 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, took part in the opening offensive on the Somme on 1 July, 1916, at the Quadrilateral. It suffered 3 officers killed and 11 wounded, with 18 other ranks killed, 231 wounded and 40 missing. It received 6 officers and 95 other ranks as reinforcements that night. 

The battalion withdrew to Bertrancourt on 11 July, and returned to the trenches, at Auchonvillers on 18 July, for three days before withdrawing and eventually going into billets at Houtkerque on 24 July.

The battalion then moved to the Ypres sector where it occupied the trenches on the canal bank in early August, withdrawing to Poperinghe for rest.

On 17 September, 1916, the 2nd Battalion arrived back on the Somme, and initially went into billets at Bertangles, where it trained and carried out practice attacks.

On 27 October it moved into billets at La Neuville and carried out further training for attacks, until 2 October, when it moved to Corbie.

On 8 October it moved off, through Morlancourt to the Citadel, near Bray.

On 9 October it moved forwards to Barnafay Wood and then up into the Flers lines. It was shelled on the way up causing 3 officers and 36 other ranks casualties.

The 11 October was spent improving the trenches and getting ready for the attack the next day, with a further one officer and 50 other ranks casualties.

On 12 October, 1916, the 4th Division mounted an attack at Le Transloy, with the 12th brigade, including the 2nd Battalion, on the left.

The attacked commenced at 2.05 pm and the battalion charged forward and reached its first objective, before the enemy could open a barrage, and captured it at 2.12 pm, with the Germans in the front line surrendering.

The Brown Line was reached at 2.40 pm and the position consolidated.

However, after that no messages were received until about 3.35 pm when a runner returned saying there were no officers or NCOs left.

At 5.05 pm another message was received from an officer stating he was on the first objective with about 50 men.

Total casualties for the day amounted to 5 officers killed, 2 missing and 2 wounded, with 43 other ranks killed, 235 wounded and 54 missing.

One of those killed in the action at Le Transloy was Private William Tucker. He was aged 32, and was initially buried at map reference 57c.N.34.d.4.8, with his grave marked with a cross.

In September, 1919, William Tucker's remains were exhumed and reburied at Guards' Cemetery, Lesboeufs, on the Somme, in France, where his grave is marked with a CWGC headstone. His name has not been identified on any local war memorial.

William Tucker's service earned him the Queen's South Africa Medal, 1899-1902, with clasps 'Relief of Kimberley', 'Paardeberg', 'Driefontein', and 'Transvaal'; King's South Africa Medal, 1901-02, with clasps 'South Africa 1901' and 'South Africa 1892'; British War Medal, 1914-20; and Victory Medal, 1914-19.