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Wilfred Leslie TUCKER

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Recommnedation for DCM

'Corporal Tucker led his men time after time against the enemy under fusillades of grenades and snipers’ fire and did great work in repulsing the several severe counter attacks made by the enemy regardless of the heavy fire until he had one remaining man in his section. Although wounded in the face he remained there and threw continuously for 7 hours when he was wounded the second time and was ordered away'.                                                                      

These incidents occurred during the Battle of Pozieres on 25th July 1916. Awarded D.C.M 19/08/16  Folio 112                     Recommendation: Captain Oates, Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 184 Date: 14 December 1916                                                                           

The first news heard in the district on Wilfred Tucker appeared in the Bendigo Independent in September 1915 under the heading: - HUNTLY SOLDIER WOUNDED.

‘Mrs, F. J. Tucker has been officially informed that her son, Pte.
W. L. Tucker, was wounded in action. In August 1914, Pte. Tucker was the first to volunteer in Huntly, where he was cyaniding with his brothers. He is a past Grand Master of the Loyal Sir Henry Barkly Lodge’. [1]

Wilfred Tucker was most likely wounded at the fateful battle of Lonesome Pine (Lone Pine), a last ditched effort by Allied forces to force a break through on the cliffs of Gallipoli. We read he had been there at landing in April and evacuation in December 1915.

It would be a full year till the Bendigo Advertiser reported in September 29, 1916 the following: - ‘Another Distinguished Conduct Medal has come to the Bendigo district. Corporal Wilfred L. Tucker, aged 25, single, son of Mrs. Tucker, of Huntly, is the soldier to whom the medal has been awarded. The official account says the medal was awarded "for leading his men under intense grenade and-sniper fire until only one man of his section was unwounded, although he himself was wounded. He continued to throw bombs for seven hours, until he was wounded a second time. When the war broke out he didn't wait for anyone to show him the way, but volunteered immediately, and was quickly in camp at Broadmeadows. He left with the 7th Battalion, and after hard training in Egypt took part in the Gallipoli campaign, where he was wounded. He managed, however, to get well in time to be present again at the evacuation. From Gallipoli, then he went to France, and the above brief official account of his bravery there shows how he has continued to do his duty. Several letters have been received from him by his parents since he received his wounds, but in none of them has any mention been made of the feat that has brought such coveted distinction to him." [2]

The district would hear from Wilfred in February 1917: -
The last mail from England brought to the secretary of the
Huntly 'branch of the Red Cross Society, the following appreciative letter from Sergeant W. L. Tucker, written from "Somewhere in France" on November 31 last: -
"Dear Madam, I have much pleasure in thanking you for a parcel which I received (through my sister) some time ago, whilst up to my waist in mud somewhere on the Somme. Please tell all the ladies connected with the society that we fully appreciate the splendid work they are doing. Parcels are always welcomed by the boys, especially at present, as it is such terrible cold weather. I am down with rheumatism at present, but expect to be back in the line with the boys again shortly, I hope with my usual good luck. It will be well after Christmas when you receive this, and I hope, you will all have a bonny time. This will be my third Christmas abroad. I am quite used to it, but would appreciate a change. In conclusion, dear friend I wish the society and all concerned with it, the best of everything. I remain sincerely yours. SGT. W. L.TUCKER.[3]  

Promoted to Lieutenant in January 1918, Wilfred Tucker would be unfortunately ‘Wounded in Action’ GSW to thigh on July 3 on the Somme battlefield and died of his wounds on July 26, 1918.     

SERVICE DETAILS:

Regimental No. 974

Date of birth: 16 May 1891

Place of birth: Lilydale, Victoria

School: Huntly State School

Religion: Church of England

Occupation: Cyanider

Address: Huntly Post Office, via Bendigo

Marital status: Single

Age at enlistment: 23

Next of kin: Mother, Mrs Frances J Tucker, Huntly P.O, Father deceased Thomas Joseph Tucker

Enlistment date: 18 August 1914

Unit name: 7th Battalion, H Company

Embarked: Transport A20 Hororata on 19 October 1914

Final Rank:  Lieutenant, Promotion date: 1 January 1918

Fate Died of wounds 26 July 1918, Age 27

Battle Of Pozieres on 25th July 1916.

The task of moving through the Pozieres village was given to the 2nd Brigade on 24 July, 1916. After 3 days of battle, on the 27th of July, the 1st Division lost 5,285 officers and men and was replaced by the Australian 2nd Division, commanded by Major General Legge. The Pozières area was the only place in which any ground had been gained on a 2.5 kilometre front of General Haig's attack on the German IV Corps.

[1] Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918)  Fri 3 Sep 1915  Page 6 HUNTLY SOLDIER WOUNDED.                                                       [2] Bendigo Advertiser, September 29, 1916. P. 5.–A Huntley DCM

[3] Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918)  Sat 17 Feb 1917  Page 7 Red Cross Gifts.

Wounded at Hazebrouck 5 July 1918. Initially transferred to 1st ACCS and then No 8 Stationary Hospital at Wimereux, France, where he died of his wounds on 25 July 1918.

Wilfred Leslie Tucker, known as Leslie or ‘Les’, was born in Lilydale, Vic., the son of Thomas Joseph & Frances Jane Tucker, of Huntly.  He was a Cyanider, 23 years & 3 months old, and had no previous military service.    He was the first man from Huntly to volunteer for the Expeditionary Force, and was a Cousin of Charles William Rushton, who also enlisted in the 7th Battalion.    Leslie Tucker enlisted on 18.8.14.   The following day he left Bendigo for the Broadmeadows Camp.   He was allotted Service no. 974 and appointed to ‘H’ Company, 7th Battalion.    On 3rd April he was attached to the Transport section of the battalion.

Prior to Embarkation he was Presented with a silver wristlet watch, a sovereign pouch and a wallet by the residents of Huntly; and was Presented with a service certificate from the Sir Henry Barkly Lodge, M.U.

The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’.   Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids.   (6/12/14)     

In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized.   In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company.      This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company.   

The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915.   The 7th Battalion Transport Details and the Machine Gun section horses embarked on S.S. Novian.   The terrain of Anzac Cove was unsuitable for horses, so the 7th Battalion Transport Details did not disembark and were still on board the Novian when she returned to Egypt (14/5/15).   The transport section spent the next months in a frustrating separation from the remainder of the battalion.   

On 19/6/15 Leslie Tucker left Egypt without permission and Embarked for the Dardanelles.   He Joined the 7th Battalion on 25/6/15.   

On July 3rd the battalion moved into the trenches at Steele’s Post.    The downward slope behind Steele’s Post was directly overlooked by the Turks, who were in position on the higher ground.   Turkish riflemen made this area particularly unsafe.   The trenches were under constant bombardment by the Enemy Howitzer, which resulted in explosions which buried men.   

On 26/7/15 Wilfred Leslie Tucker was sent to hospital with septic hands, the result of GSW to his Hands.    He rejoined the battalion on 13/8/15.   

On September 13 the battalion embarked for Lemnos & marched to Sarpi Camp.   The health of the men was of great concern and it was hoped to improve this by an extended period of rest.   The men were fed well, but the improvement in the men’s health was very slow indeed.   The battalion returned to Anzac on November 21.   Wilfred Leslie Tucker was appointed L/Cpl on 4/12/15.   

In December preparations began for the evacuation of Anzac.   The 7th Battalion was withdrawn on the night of December 19th.    They embarked for Lemnos and then disembarked in Egypt on 6th January 1916.  

Wilfred Leslie Tucker went on to serve with distinction on the Western Front.   He was appointed Cpl on 21/7/16, and participated in the Battle of Pozieres.  He was Wounded (2nd occasion) during the Battle, sustaining GSW to his cheek.   He rejoined the battalion on 28/8/16.   

He was Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry in action during the Battle of Pozieres.   Date of Action: 25/7/1916.   

He was Promoted Sgt on 27/8/16, and Lieut. on 23/7/17.   

On 3/7/18 he was Wounded (3rd occasion), sustaining a GSW to his right thigh.   His Femur was later amputated.    He Died of Wounds on 25/7/18, and was Buried in the Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France.

"The First Lot.  7th Battalion.  The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.": Larna Malone

Son of Thomas Joseph and Frances Jane Tucker

"A HUNTLY D.C.M. CORPORAL W. L. TUCKER

Another Distinguished Conduct Medal has come to the Bendigo district. Corporal Wilfred L. Tucker, aged 25, single, son of Mrs. Tucker, of Huntly, is the soldier to whom the medal has been awarded. The official account says medal was awarded "for leading his men under intense grenade and-snipers' fire until only one man of his section was unwounded, although he himself was wounded. He continued to throw bombs for seven hours, until he was wounded a second time." When the war broke out he didn't wait for anyone to show him the way, but volunteered immediately, and was quickly in camp at Broadmeadows. He left with the 7th Battalion, and after hard training in Egypt took part in the Gallipoli campaign, where he was wounded. He managed, how ever, to get well in time to be present again at the evacuation. From Gallipoli, then he went to France, and the above brief official account of his bravery there shows how he has continued to do his duty. Several letters have been received from him by his parents since he received his wounds, but in none of them has any mention been made of the feat that has brought such coveted distinction to him." - from the Bendigo Advertiser 29 Sep 1916 (nla.gov.au)