John William Tucker was born in 1885, at Welshpool, in Montgomeryshire, Wales, the second of four known children to William James Tucker and Mary Jane Tucker (formerly Jones).

He had three sisters: Frances Maria (1882); Laura May (1887); and Mary Jane P. (1889). In 1891 the family was living at Newtown, in Welshpool, where the father was employed as a wool sorter.

By 1911 John William Tucker was employed as a waggoner on a farm at Lower Shadymoor Farm, Stapleton, in Shropshire.

He married Ellen Munslow on 5 July, 1911, at Church Stretton, in Shropshire, and they were to have two children: Alfred Leonard (1911); and Dorothy (1914).

By the time he re-enlisted in 1915 they were living at Rattling Hope, in Pontesbury, Shropshire.

John William Tucker first enlisted at Welshpool on 4 March, 1902, joining the 4th (Militia) Battalion of the South Wales Borderers, as a private, no. 3459.

He was aged 18 and described as being: 5' 7" tall; with reddish brown hair; brown eyes; a fresh complexion; weighing 117 lbs; and with a chest measurement of 31"/34".

On 16 April, 1902, he joined the regular Army, at Brecon, as a private, no. 7257, in the South Wales Borderers.

After training, he was posted to the 1st Battalion, on 14 October, but was posted to the 2nd Battalion, on 8 November, 1902, with whom he then served in South Africa from 3 February, 1903.

Private Tucker returned to England in June, 1904, and transferred to the Army Reserve on 15 April, 1905.

In April, 1909, he transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), as a private, no. 2952. He was discharged from the Army Reserve on 15 April, 1914.

His widow later re-married, becoming Ellen Hotchkiss.

John William Tucker re-enlisted at Shrewsbury on 15 February, 1915, as a private, no. T2/SR/02899, in the Army Service Corps.

He was posted to Aldershot for training as a driver. On 18 March, 1915, he embarked at Southampton, aboard the SS Alexandria, and disembarked in France the next day.

He went to the Base Depot, from where he joined the Indian Divisional Ammunition Column, and then transferred to the 46th Divisional Train.

On 26 April, 1915, he was tried by Field General Court Martial for being drunk and for insubordination.

He was sentenced to four months imprisonment with hard labour, but which was deferred and he was sentenced to three months Field Punishment No. 1.

He was sent back to the Base Depot at Le Havre, before re-joining the 46th Divisional Train in December, 1915.

In February, 1916, he was posted back to Le Havre and then joined the 17th Divisional Train, He became ill in March, 1916, and spent one week in hospital. He was court martialled again on 16 June, 1916, for using insubordinate language to an NCO.

He was then transferred to the 2nd Reserve Park, Army Service Corps, attached to the First Army.

He was granted one week's leave in October, 1916, and on his return to France he was hospitalised at the 4th Canadian Field Ambulance, on 2 December, 1916, suffering from myalgia.

He returned to the 2nd Reserve Park just before Christmas, and moved to the Ypres Salient in 1917.

John William Tucker was badly wounded at Ypres, on 13 September, 1917, when a German aircraft dropped a bomb near his headquarters.

He suffered wounds to both legs and his left thigh, and was evacuated to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, at Remy Sidings, where he died of his wounds later that day.

John William Tucker lies buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, in Belgium, with his grave marked by a CWGC headstone. He is also commemorated on the Welshpool war memorial, in Montgomeryshire.