Robert Tucker was born on 23 April, 1878, at Hampstead, in Middlesex, England, the third of five known children to Robert Tucker, a gardener, and Ellen Tucker (formerly Davey). He had two brothers and two sisters: William (1874); Ellen (1876); John (1880); and Alice (1882).

By 1881 the family was living at the Gardener's Cottage to Frognal Manor House, in Hampstead, and ten years later at 5 Henstridge Place, in Marylebone, Middlesex.

His mother died in 1899, and by 1901 his widowed father, with Robert, John and Alice, were living at 36 De Walden Buildings in Marylebone, with Robert (junior) employed as a bricklayer's labourer.

On 13 February, 1906, Robert Tucker married Margaret Annie Marsh at St. Mark's Church, in Hamilton Terrace, Marylebone. Robert was then lining at 4 Nugent Terrace, employed as a porter.

Sometime thereafter, before 1911, he and his wife emigrated to Canada.

By 1915 Robert Tucker and his wife were living at 50 Torrince Avenue, in Todmorden, Toronto, where Robert was employed as a labourer. They were to have four children born between 1906 and 1914, and by 1916 were living at 18½ Westward Avenue in Todmorden.

Robert Tucker was serving in the Militia, with the 45th Highlanders, when he enlisted on 15 June, 1915, at Niagara Camp, in Ontario. He joined the 35th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, which recruited in Toronto, as a private, no. 405647, and served in 'D' Company. He was then aged 37, and described as being: 5' 5½" tall; with dark brown hair; hazel grey eyes; a dark complexion; weighing 160 lbs; and with a chest measurement of 34½"/37".

He sailed from Canada with the 35th Battalion on 16 October, 1915, and on 9 February, 1916, the battalion was re-designated the 35th Reserve Battalion, to provide reinforcements to units in France.

On 16 March, 1916, Robert Tucker disembarked in France and three days later, on 19 March, he joined the 18th Infantry Battalion (Western Ontario Regiment). The 18th Battalion, had landed in France in September, 1915, and was part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, in the 2nd Canadian Division.

On 21 August, 1916, he suffered a traumatic injury to his back, which necessitated his evacuation to England, where he was admitted to Shorncliffe Military Hospital. He was discharged from hospital on 19 September and returned to France.

By September, 1916, the battalion was resting at Albert, on the Somme, but towards the end of the month it moved to Lavicogne and Vadencourt.

On 25 September the battalion moved into the Chalk Pits, and was held in reserve, before moving into Sausage Valley on 27 September, and the Sunken Road the next day.

On the night of 1/2 October, 1916, the 18th Battalion relieved the 21st Canadian Battalion in front of Courcelette, and in the early hours of the morning advanced 500 yards and dug a new trench. It held the new position taken even though the left was exposed, due to the battalion on the left being unable to advance.

On 3 October the battalion moved into reserve at Sausage Valley, and on 4 October the battalion's war diary listed the casualties sustained during the previous operation as: 2 officers wounded; 24 other ranks killed in action; 78 wounded and 11 missing.

One of those casualties was Robert Tucker, killed in action on 3 October, 1916, at Courcelette, on the Somme, in France. He was 39 years of age.

Having no known grave, Robert Tucker is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial in Pas de Calais, France. He is also commemorated in the Canadian World War One Book of Remembrance. His name has not been identified on any local war memorial.

Robert Tucker's service earned him the British War Medal, 1914-20, and Victory Medal, 1914-19, which were issued to his widow, together with a memorial plaque, memorial scroll, and the Canadian Memorial Cross, to commemorate his sacrifice.