Leonard Joseph Tucker was born on 22 November, 1897, at 7 Howard Place, in Hosier Street, Reading, Berkshire, the first child of Joseph Henry Tucker, a woodworking machinist, and Florence Ellen Tucker (formerly Roberts). He had two younger siblings: Reginald Henry (1904), born at Sunningdale; and Gladys Edith (1909), born at Oxford.

By 1901, the family was living at The Rise, in Sunningdale, Berkshire, and between 1911-14 at 8 Landsboro' Terrace, in George Street, Summertown, Oxford, before moving to 7 King's Road, in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, where the family was recorded in 1917, and were still living there in 1939.

As a boy, Leonard Joseph Tucker attended Oxford Wesleyan School, and prior to his enlistment in 1914 had been employed with the printing staff of the Oxford Chronicle. As a youth, prior to enlisting in the Army, Lionel Joseph Tucker was a member of the Boy Scout movement and rose to become a Patrol Leader with Troop V of the Oxford Boy Scouts.

On the outbreak of World War One, in August, 1914, he enlisted in the Army, aged 16. His certified registration of death, in 1917, states that he was then aged 22 (when he was in fact 19), suggesting that he claimed to be 19 when he enlisted in 1914.

He joined the 1/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (OBLI) (Territorial Force), as a Private, No. 2761, and was appointed as a bugler, possibly reflecting talents he had learned in the Boy Scouts. On 4 August, the battalion was at Oxford, part of the South Midlands Brigade, South Midlands Division and moved to Writtle, near Chelmsford.

Although having reached the age of 17, he was still officially 'under-age' to serve in overseas when he embarked with the battalion on 29 March, 1915, and landed in France the next day. It appears from a much later newspaper article that he served with No. 16 Platoon, which would have been part of D Company.

In May, 1915, the South Midlands formation became the 145th Brigade, 48th Division.

By the summer of 1916 the 1/4th Battalion was heavily engaged on the Somme, particularly in the attacks against the German positions at Pozieres in the third week of August, where Bugler Tucker was wounded, which was reported in the Oxford Chronicle on 15 September, 1916.

In early 1917, in common with all soldiers serving with the Territorial Force, he was allocated a new number, 200698.

By mid-1917 the 1/4th Battalion, OBLI, had moved to Flanders, where it took part in the initial offensive of the 3rd Battle of Ypres, otherwise known as 'Passchendaele'.

The offensive began on 31 July, with the 1/4th Battalion at Camp Y, at St. Jan Ter Biezen. The companies spent the next few days undergoing classes, lectures and training.

On 2 August one officer and 36 men provided carrying parties to bring in wounded from the battlefield. The next day senior officers and company commanders attended lectures in Poperinghe on the task of 48th Division, and orders for a move were forwarded by the brigade.

On 4 August the brigade moved to Dambre Camp, with the battalion starting out at 11.30 am, in the order: HQ details, A, B, C and D Companies, via Poperinghe, the Poperinghe-Ypres Road, plank road, north of Vlamertinghe, and along the Elverdinghe Road. Dambre Camp was reached at 3.30 pm, where they found tents newly pitched but the camp unimproved.

The early part of 5 August was spent at Dambre Camp preparing to move into the line to relieve the 39th Division. The battalion moved off at 7.30 pm, in the order: HQ, A, B, C and D Companies, with the platoons at five-minute intervals. The route taken was via the Vlamertinghe plank road to Salvation Corner; the road to the left to Bridge 2A; and a trench board track to Kitchener's Wood. The battalion took over the front line, along the Steenbeek, from the 6th Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment and the 5th Battalion, Royal Highlanders. Several casualties were sustained going in.

It was reported that the relief was complete at 1.00 am on 6 August, with A and B Companies left and right front companies respectively, and C and D Companies in support, with the former holding two platoons at Adams Farm and two in Canoe Trench. The latter was similarly distributed in The Bund, a large concrete structure near Adams Farm, and Canopus Trenches, with Battalion HQ in Canoe Trench. The battalion area was shelled continuously during the day causing many casualties.

Between 3.00-5.00 pm on 7 August the front platoons at Adams Farm were heavily shelled, and also Battalion HQ. The front line was seriously bombarded from 9.00-10.00 pm, with the left company suffering the most. The battalion was relieved by 1/4th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, with the relief complete at 4.30 am, shortly before day break on 8 August, and the 1/4th Battalion, OBLI, went into reserve in their position.

The battalion's trenches were shelled with high explosive several times during day, with B and D Companies suffering casualties. The battalion was relieved in the early evening by the 1/6th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, and returned to Dambre Camp in a heavy rain storm, where the men had a hot meal and rum. Casualties for the three days included two officers and 18 other ranks killed; three officers and 58 other ranks wounded; with four other ranks missing.

Given the timing and date, culminating in a report in the Oxford Chronicle on Friday, 17 August, and allowing for the passage of correspondence, it is most likely that the period 5-7 August was when Bugler Leonard Joseph Tucker was wounded.

On 17 August the Oxford Chronicle carried a report from Tucker's Company Commander to his parents:

"I am very sorry to have to write and tell you that your son, Bugler L. Tucker, was very badly wounded in the shoulder last night. He was with four other men sent as guides, when he was hit by a shell which exploded near him. He received immediate medical aid, and was sent to hospital. Though the worst may happen, yet I hope we shall hear that he has good chances of recovery."

Evacuated down the medical chain, Leonard Joseph Tucker reached the 2nd Canadian General Hospital, at Boulogne in France, where he died of his wounds on 24 August, aged 19.

The time-delay in the passage of information is illustrated in the official War Office Weekly Casualty Lists, which did not list him as 'wounded' until 6 September, and he was not listed as 'previously wounded now died of wounds' until 3 October. He had served for three years, and in France and Flanders for 2 years and 148 days, before dying of wounds.

Leonard Joseph Tucker was subsequently buried as Boulogne Eastern Cemetery. His name has not been found on any local war memorial.

His service earned him the 1914-15 Star; British War Medal, 1914-20; and Victory Medal, 1914-19.