Howard Tucker

Story:
Howard Tucker was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12 May 1886 the son of Gideon Tucker, a Coach Painter, and Mary Elizabeth Tucker (nee Foot).   He lived all his early life in St. James Street, Shaftesbury.  He married Bessie Annie Belbin at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 26 Dec 1913.   At the time of his enlistment on 10 Dec 1915 he was living at 15 Market Street, Yeovil, Somerset.  He was mobilized on 9 Sep 1916 and joined the Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport) as a Private (Service No. M2/223100).  He served some of his time in France and Flanders with the 5th Heavy Repair Shop and finally with the 974th Motor Transport Company.  He was discharged on 18 Nov 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He returned to live in Yeovil and by the 1921 Census was living at 4 Coronation Buildings, Yeovil, and later, by the 1939 Register, at 134 Huish Gardens, Yeovil, Somerset, working as a Coach Painter.  According to the Probate Records he died in the Bevendean Hospital, Bear Road, Brighton, Sussex, on 10 Jun 1965 even though the death was recorded in Yeovil. Three of his brothers, George Farley Tucker, Sidney Wilfred Tucker and Victor Douglas Tucker, also served in the conflict and all four names were listed on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James' Church Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.