William Charles Tucker was born in 1882 at Cardiff, in Glamorganshire, the third of four known children to Thomas Henry Tucker, an engine fireman, and Eliza Mary Tucker (formerly Robbins). He was baptised, together with his two elder siblings, on 6 June, 1884, at St. Margaret's Church in Roath, when the family lived at 16 Maud Street. He had two brothers and one sister: Eliza Mary Elizabeth (1878); Thomas Henry (1880); and Herbert Ivor (1893).

By 1891 the family was living at 35 Rose Street, in Roath, but William was not present and has not been traced.

In 1901 the family was living at 127 Broadway, in Roath, by which time the 18-year-old William was employed as railway engine fire bar layer.

By 1911 the family was still living at 127 Broadway, by which time the two eldest siblings had died, and William was employed as a dock labourer.

On 7 August, 1911, William Charles Tucker married Alice Jane Spencer at Cardiff Register Office. They were to have one son, Ivor James (1913), and lived at 23 Emerald Street in Cardiff.

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

He enlisted at Cardiff, in Glamorganshire, on 24 May, 1915, joining the Welsh Regiment, as a private, no. 34346. He was posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at Cardiff. He was aged 32 and described as being: 5' 4½" tall; weighing 126 lbs; and with a chest measurement of 32"/34".

However, he was discharged on 25 June, 1915, medically unfit, suffering from eczema of the feet.

At some point, he re-enlisted, joining to the Gloucestershire Regiment, as a private, 23881, and posted to the 8th (Service) Battalion. The battalion had been formed at Bristol in September, 1914, and became part of the 57th Brigade in the 19th Division, and landed in France in July, 1915.

The battalion's first action was to mount a diversionary attack during the battle of Loos in September, 1915.

It was engaged on the Somme in 1916, at La Boiselle, High Wood, Pozieres Ridge, Ancre Heights and the Ancre, and in 1917 at the battle of Messines.

By virtue of the fact that William Charles Tucker did not qualify for the 1914-15 Star, he did not proceed overseas until 1916 onwards, and would have joined the 8th Battalion in a draft of reinforcements.

By February, 1917, the battalion was serving in the trenches opposite Serre, on the Somme, and when out of the trenches held at Courcelles. By the end of the month it was at Bus-les-Artois, and then marched to billets at Louvencourt followed by various locations until it arrived Murrumbidgee Camp on 21 March from where it occupied trenches in the Diependaal sector, and at the end of the month was in billets at Moolenacker.

During April it moved repeated times until arriving at Zudausques, where it carried out training. On 19 April it moved to Scherpenberg and occupied Carnarvon Camp, from where it provided working parties.

On 1 May, 1917, the battalion moved to the Hill 60 Sector, and took over the Railway Dugouts, and five days later took over the centre sector. The battalion was relieved on the night of 11/12 May, and then moved to billets at De Zon Camp, and later returned to Murrumbidgee Camp, from where it went into support at Redgewood, returned to Murrumbidgee and finally Carnarvon Camp once again, before ending the month at Ascot Camp at Westoutre. It remained at Ascot Camp until the night of 6 June.

On the night of 6/7 June, 1917, the battalion moved off to take up its assembly position at Grand Bois, for an attack to capture the Messines-Wytschaete Ridge.

At 8.10 am on 7 June the battalion attacked the Black Line in front of Onraet Wood, and pushed forward to Oosttaverne Wood. A further attack was launched against the village of Oosttaverne and Odonto Trench, which the battalion took and consolidated. The battalion lost 2 officers killed and 2 wounded.

The battalion held the position the next day and sent out patrols, which captured 30 prisoners.

The battalion was relieved on the night of 8/9 June and took up position in the Blue Line, in reserve. Two nights later it returned to De Zon Camp, where it remained until 15 June when it moved back in front of Grand Bois, and provided working parties.

On 20 June it returned to De Zon Camp, in Corps Reserve and carried out training.

On 2 July, 1917, the battalion took over the Ridge Defence, centred on Onraet Farm, providing working parties, and remained in position until 7 July. It then took over the right sub-sector at Oosttaverne, and set about strengthening and improving the trenches, and wiring.

On 9 July the battalion attacked the enemy positions east of Oosttaverne. The objectives were gained, taking 7 prisoners, and posts were established. Two officers were killed.

The battalion was relieved on 10 July and moved back to the Ridge Defence, before moving back to Rossignol Wood, where it became Divisional Reserve. The battalion war diary provides no details of casualties, other than naming the officers. 

Given that Private William Charles Tucker died of wounds at a field ambulance, at Klein-Vierstraat, on 10 July, 1917, it is almost certain that he was wounded in the attack at Oosttaverne on 9 July. He was aged 35.

William Charles lies buried in Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery, in Belgium, with his grave marked by a CWGC headstone. His name has not been identified on any local war memorial.

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