George Adolphus (Gus) Tucker was born in about 1880, at Overton, in Texas, in the United States of America (USA). He was the son of Dr. J. P. Tucker, MD, and Susan E. Tucker, who later lived at 2107½ Street, in Galveston, Texas. It is presumed that he was unmarried.

Having travelled to the United Kingdom, Gus Tucker enlisted in the Army at Bristol, in Gloucestershire, assuming the surname of 'Rucker' and claiming to have been born at Quebec, in Canada. This was clearly to enable him to enlist in the British Army, due to the position of strict neutrality the USA adopted prior to 1917, which extended to its citizens.

As George Adolphus (Gus) Rucker he enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment, as a Private, no. 21399, and was posted to the 7th (Service) Battalion. His service number was issued in roughly June, 1915. His service record has not survived and what is known has been extrapolated from other sources.

The 7th Battalion was raised in Bristol in 1914, as part of the 39th Brigade in the 13th Division, and sailed from Avonmouth in June, 1915, bound for Gallipoli, where it landed on 11 July at 'Y' Beach.

Gus Tucker did not arrive at Gallipoli until 27 October, 1915, and was clearly in the draft of 50 men which arrived from England and joined the battalion on 31 October. The battalion was then serving at Sulajik, Suvla Bay, and suffered only 2 men killed and seven wounded in the month up to 28 November.

On 29 November the battalion was shelled causing 6 killed and 15 wounded, with one dying from exposure. Two men died from exposure the following day, which was the result of a terrific storm which had taken place on the night of 26/27 November.

There were few casualties in December, but the battalion received two further drafts of reinforcements before preparations started on 12 December for the evacuation, via Cape Helles, for Mudros, with three men killed and ten wounded in the last two days of the month.

The battalion did not leave Gallipoli until 8 January, 1916, being subjected to heavy bombardment during its last week on the peninsula, and losing some men right up to the last day.

The 7th Battalion moved to Egypt, arriving at Alexandria on 23 January, 1916, and went into camp at Port Said.

It embarked at Port Said on 16 February, bound for Mesopotamia, reaching Kuwait on 28 February, and Basra on 4 March.

The battalion, having had some cases of fever, was then isolated at Makin-a-Malsus until 8 April. Its effective strength was 28 officers and 731 other ranks. It then march to Marghil and embarked on river steamers to proceed up the River Tigris, reaching Amarah on 11 April, Ali Gharbi on 14 April, and disembarked at Osah on 15 April, and pitched camp.

They re-embarked on 17 April and disembarked at Corps Headquarters on 18 April. After 36 hours of continuous digging to get any cover, on 19 April, 1916, the battalion took part in the attack on the Beit Aiessa position, towards a feature known as the Pimples.

Turkish artillery fire (shrapnel) burst over the reserve trenches causing about 50 casualties in the first hour. The companies then advanced to reinforce other battalions in front, suffering 4 officers wounded, and 12 other ranks killed, 71 wounded, and 16 missing.

On 20 April the battalion moved up to new reserve trenches, and dug new communication trenches with orders to push forward during the night. 'A' Company moved out and came under heavy machine gun fire, and bombing from the Turkish trenches, and 'D' Company was pushed forward in support, with the loss of four officers killed and one wounded. 'B' and 'C' Companies were then sent forward to rally the withdrawn men in the firing line and continue digging the communications trenches. It cost another officer killed and one wounded. Other ranks casualties for the action were: 68 killed; 177 wounded; 35 missing; and 1 died of wounds.

Over the next three days working parties commenced work on the new proposed line and communications trenches, with numbers of the enemy encountered in front, hindering the work. The battalion suffered a further 4 other ranks killed and 8 wounded during that period.

The battalion was relieved at 10.30 pm on 23 April, and moved into reserve bivouacs, where it received a fresh draft of 2 officers and 177 men, bringing its effective strength up to 16 officers and 566 other ranks.

The battalion remained in its bivouacs until 27 April.

Private Gus Tucker was clearly one of the wounded casualties between 19-23 April, 1916. He died of wounds at Wadi on 26 April, 1916, most likely at a field ambulance. He was aged 36. He would have been buried but his grave was subsequently lost.

Having no known grave George Adolphus (Gus) Tucker, who served as 'Rucker', is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, in Iraq.

Gus Tucker's service earned him the 1914-15 Star; British War Medal, 1914-20; and Victory Medal, 1914-19.