Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: Leonard Cecil Tucker
Service Number: 4894
Place of Birth: Norwood
Date of Birth: 3 June 1884
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 12 November 1915
Age at Enlistment: 31 years 5 months
Marital status: Married with 3 children
Next of Kin: Wife – Elizabeth Tucker
Occupation: Baker and Cook
Religion: Protestant
Rank: Private
Biographical details:
Leonard was the son of Leonard Tucker and Ellen McLeod Halliday. He did his basic training with C Coy 2nd Depot from 12 November to 1 December 1915 and transferred to the 5th Field Bakery on 27 April 1916. Prior to enlistment he was a member of the Port Adelaide Rifle Club and had previously been rejected for AIF enlistment on account of his height. Leonard’s unit embarked from Adelaide on board RMS Mongolia on 9 March 1916.he was hospitalised at Tel-el Kebir, Egypt, with influenza on 9 May and was able to rejoin his unit on 11 May. The 5th Field Bakery of the 10th Battalion were sent to France on 27 April 1917, after having served in Egypt. Leonard had been sent to hospital with bronchitis for two weeks on 15 April. He was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital with another bout of influenza on 4 May and was able to rejoin his unit on 26 May. Leonard was granted leave in the UK on 11 to 25 August. He returned to Australia on 19 April 1919 and was discharged on 19 July(1)..
Fruit Block Details:
Leonard occupied Block 187 of 41 acres on 1 September 1920. It comprised 26.25 acres of irrigable land and 14.75 acres of dry land. Vermin- proof fencing was erected in 1920 at a cost of 11 pounds 4 shillings, with channelling erected in 1919, costing 240 pounds 10 shillings.The house built in 1920 consisted of 3 rooms with concrete walls and a roof of iron and wood. It was valued at 400 pounds when constructed in 1920. Leonard grew 0.75 acres of Lucerne, 6.4 acres of doras, 5.3 acres of sultanas, 4.8 acres of currants, 0.8 acres of prunes, 1 acre of peaches, 1.7 acres of apricots, 1.5 acres of oranges, 2 acres of gordos, 0.3 acres of mixed trees, 0.3 acres combined of peaches and pears. Vacant land comprised 1.4 acres. Leonard complained to the Royal Commission on the Soldier-Settler Scheme, stating the value placed upon the house on his block was far less than what he paid for it to be built(2).
Other Anecdotal Information:
Leonard Tucker married Eliza Perry. They had four children, Hilda Lucinda, born in Renmark on 30 April 1920; William Leonard, born 28 April 1922; Arthur Leslie, born 30 April 1924 and Sylvie Annie, born on 14 March 1926. William, Arthur and Sylvie were born in Berri(3)
Glossop Agricultural Bureau appointed Leonard President in August 1921(4). He was elected as Town Councillor for Winkie ward in the Berri District Council elections in July 1923(5). Leonard was elected Chairman of Glossop School Committee on 24 March.
Leonard Tucker died on 20 January 1954, aged 68 and is buried at Berri Cemetery(6).
1. National Australian Archives: B2455; Tucker L C; Barcode 8395110
2. Barmera Berri Council, Berri Barmera & Districts Local History Collection.
3. South Australian Births, Deaths & Marriages Records.
4.Trove/ The Murray Pioneer & The Australian River Record 26 August 1921.
5.Trove/ The Murray Pioneer & The Australian River Record 13 July 1923.
6.Trove/ The Murray Pioneer & The Australian River Record 28 March 1924.