Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur John Tucker was born at Mt Pleasant on the 2 January 1876 to Samuel Arthur and Elizabeth Susan (nee Berry) Tucker. The Tucker family took up land in the Willowie area in 1876 and moved to Willowie from Mt Pleasant not long after. They originally selected Section 122 Hundred of Willowie, then in 1897 took up Sect 121 and in 1907 Sect 183. Samuel Tucker was a progressive farmer and a member of the Willowie Agricultural Bureau. Arthur John was the second born, and eldest and only son of the five surviving children of Samuel and Elizabeth.

He enlisted on the 16 September 1914, the second Willowie man to do so. He was 38 years 8 months, 5’8” (173 cm) tall and weighed 12 stone 12 lb (81.6 kg). He had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair and was a Methodist. He nominated his sister Lottie as his next of kin.

He embarked on the 20 October 1914 from Melbourne on the HMAT A26 ‘Armadale’ as a Driver for the Australian Reserve Park 1, Company 10 for Egypt. The unit undertook desert training in Egypt and on the 7 August 1915, he embarked for the Dardanelles. 

The troops were withdrawn from Gallipoli during December 1915 and returned to Egypt, where during the early part of 1916 the Australian troops were reorganised into a force to serve in both in the Middle East and the British Expeditionary Force in France. Arthur was transferred to the 28 Company Australian Army Service Corps (AASC) on the 3 March 1916, then to the 14 Company AASC on the 20 May 1916, embarking then for Marseilles on the 7 June 1916 and arriving there on the 15 June 1916. Arthur served with this unit until the 1 August 1916 when he was transferred to the 10th Company AASC. “Australian Army Service Corps Companies (AASC) provided horse transport for food, supplies, ammunition etc. 10th Army Service Corps Company [5th Division Train] was also known as 1st Reserve Supply Park. Ref: http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/ww1/1aif/supports2.htm

On the 25 October 1917 Arthur was promoted to Lance Corporal and continued in the Field for the duration until he was awarded leave to the United Kingdom from the 31 January to the 16 February 1918. Later in 1918 he had achieved 4 years overseas service and proceeded to the United Kingdom for embarkation for his “Special 1914 Leave”. He embarked from Southampton on the ‘Pt Lyttleton’ on the 13 October 1918 and arrived in Melbourne on Christmas Day 1918. Due to the Cessation of Hostilities on the 11th November in Europe Arthur did not return to the front. He was discharged on the 23 February 1919.

He returned to live and work in the Willowie/Hammond region. Arthur’s death certificate records him as single and of Wilmington when he died on the 17 August 1951 in hospital at Booleroo Centre. He is buried at the Willowie Cemetery.

Published with Permission from "Diggers From the Dust - Honouring the service personnel of the Willowie & Amyton Area" Di Barrie & Andrew Barrie, Published 2018.