Victor Douglas Tucker

Story:
Victor Douglas Tucker was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16th January 1888 and baptised at St. James' Church on 12th February 1888, the son of Gideon Tucker and Mary Elizabeth Tucker (née Foot).  He grew up in the family home at 25 St. James Street in Shaftesbury. It is recorded in family records that he enlisted with the Dorset Volunteers in 1905 as a Bugler later transferring to the 1st/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment in a Territorial capacity.  He married Martha Annie Woodrow at the Independent Chapel, Shaftesbury, on 25th April 1909 and they went on to have four children. He re-enlisted at the outbreak of the war and joined the Machine Gun Corps (Motor Unit) as a Private (Service No. 57580).  He served in France and Flanders where, at one of the Battles of the Somme serving with the 32nd Reserve Company, he received gunshot wounds to the right leg and left hand.  He was eventually discharged on 17th February 1919 and was awarded a grant of £70 in lieu of pension. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 24 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Tailor with the local firm of Pryce and Barribal, Sporting Tailors, High Street, Shaftesbury.  The 1939 Register has him at the same address but now described as a Master Tailor.  He died at the Harrison Hospital, Charminster, Dorset, on 2nd January 1961 and was later interred at the Congregational Independent Chapel, Mustons Lane, Shaftesbury, on 5th January 1961.  The family records also refer to his membership of the Shaftesbury Town Band for over 52 years. Three of Victor's brothers also served in the war: Sidney Wilfred (b.1894) with the Dorsetshire Regiment, George Farley (b.1890) with the Somerset Light Infantry and Howard (b. 1886) with the Army Service Corps.