Researching Samuel Tucker has been a challenge due to the various ages recorded for him, and different places of birth given. Moreover, two principle sets of records have no entries for him. However, unusually there are four sets of surviving service papers for him, which provide potentially conflicting data to that recorded by the CWGC.

Samuel Tucker was born in late 1864 at Gloucester, in Gloucestershire, the fourth of six known children to Henry Tucker, a smith's hammer man, and Mary Ann Tucker (formerly Hewett). He had three brothers and three sisters: James (1858); Harry (1858); Sarah (1862; William (1867); and Emily Ann (1870).

By 1871 the family was living at Elming Row, in the Parish of St. Luke's, in Gloucester. The mother died in 1878, and by 1881 the father had moved, with his remaining children, including Samuel, to Manchester, where they lived at 4 Duke Street, in Gorton. The 16-year-old Samuel was employed as a hammer driver.

By the next census (1891) Samuel had joined the Army, but had lived at 5 Violet Street, in Openshaw, where his father continued to live. 

On leaving the Army Samuel married Charlotte Bailey on 2 February, 1901, at Bolton in Lancashire. They were to have just one child, Minnie Hilda (1901). At the census Samuel and his new bride were living at 4 Dickson Street South, in Bolton, and he was employed as a striker in an ironworks.

By 1905 they were living at 2 James Street, in Pottery Lane, Openshaw, Manchester, with Samuel still employed as a striker.

By 1911 it would appear that Samuel Tucker had separated from his wife and daughter. At the census Charlotte Tucker, and their daughter, were living at her father's address in Openshaw and her status had been written as 'separated' (which was not one of the options), crossed out, and over written 'married'. Meanwhile, Samuel Tucker was lodging at 20-24 Cannon Street, in Burnley, Lancashire: he was described as being 47, born in Manchester, and employed as a blacksmith's striker - he was listed as being 'single'.

However, when Samuel Tucker attested in the Army Reserve in 1914 he gave his status as 'married', with his wife living at 6 Ambrose Street, Pottery Lane, West Gorton, Manchester.

Following Samuel Tucker's death, his widow remarried in the summer of 1917, becoming Mrs. Charlotte Blackburn, and lived at Railway View in Gorton.

Samuel Tucker initially enlisted at Ashton under Line, on 10 November, 1887, joining the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, of the Royal Lancaster Regiment, as a private, no. 1617. His declared age was 20 years and 11 months, and he said he had been born in Manchester. He was described as being 5' 4¼" tall; with brown hair; blue eyes; a fresh complexion; and with a chest measurement of 35". It was stated that he had a scar over his left nipple and cicatrices (scars) scattered over the back of his neck. He served with 'F' Company for just over one year.

On 29 December, 1888, Samuel Tucker enlisted in the King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), at Lancaster, as a private, no. 2264. He was then aged 21 and described as being: 5' 5" tall; with brown hair; grey eyes; and fresh complexion; weighing 136 lbs; and a chest measurement of 36". He had no distinguishing marks.

After his initial training he was posted to the 1st Battalion, in Ireland. On 5 December, 1889, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, in India, where he landed at Bombay the following month. He served variously at Karachi, Hyderabad, Kirkee, Ahmednugger, and Nasirabad, until embarking for England in December, 1895, wjere he disembarked in February, 1896.

He had been granted his first good conduct badge, and forfeited it, on two occasions before finally having it restored and keeping it.

On 3 March, 1896, he was transferred to the Army Reserve.

On 13 November, 1899, Samuel Tucker was recalled to the Colours due to the outbreak of war in South Africa, and rejoined the 2nd Battalion: he forfeited his one good conduct badge just three weeks later.

He was posted to South Africa with the 2nd Battalion, where they were engaged in the operations to relieve the besieged town of Ladysmith and took part in the battle of Spion Kop in January, 1900, as well as operations on the Tugela.

Once Ladysmith was relieved the battalion took part in operations in the Orange Free State and Transvaal, and the battle at Laing's Nek on 2 June, 1900.

Having completed his recalled service Samuel Tucker was posted home in November, 1900, and was discharged on 28 December, having served in total for 13 years. It was recorded that his habits were irregular and intemperate, with his conduct only fair.

His service in South Africa earned him the Queen's South Africa Medal.

On 16 June, 1905, Samuel enlisted again, joining the 4th (Militia) Battalion of the Royal Lancaster Regiment, as a private, no. 8984. His declared age was then 37 and he was described as being: 5' 4¾" tall; with brown hair; blue eyes; a fresh complexion; weighing 130 lbs; a chest measurement of 33"/36"; and with tattoos of a man and goat on his outside right arm, a crown and wreath on his outside left arm, with flowers on the inside of his left forearm.

He was present for training in 1906 and 1907, and in 1908 elected to join the Special Reserve. He was discharged on 14 June, 1909.

On 12 September, 1914, Samuel Tucker attested at Manchester to serve for one year in the Army Reserve (Special Reserve), and joined the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, The King's Own, as a private, no. 4515. His stated aged was then 43 years and 10 days, and he was described as being: 5' 4½" tall; weighing 126 lbs; and with a chest measurement of 34½"/37". He had numerous tattoo marks on both arms.

On 31 October, 1914, he was posted to the 10th (Reserve) Battalion, which had just been formed at Saltash as a service battalion in the 99th Brigade of the original 33rd Division. It then moved to Kingsbridge and became a 2nd reserve battalion, then to Swanage, and to Wareham in August, 1915, in the 10th Reserve Brigade. In September it became the 43rd Training Reserve Battalion, in the 10th Reserve Brigade, at Wareham.

That chronology matches Samuel Tucker's entries and amendments to his service record.

Samuel Tucker had many entries in his conduct sheet. Whilst at Kingsbridge in 1914 and early 1915 he had been charged with overstaying his leave; being unshaven whilst a prisoner; and drunk. At Swanage he had been charged with being filthy and dirty in town; overstaying his pass; making an improper reply to an officer; and being late falling in for parade and improperly dressed. At Wareham in 1916 he had been charged with being absent from parade; overstaying his pass; and being drunk in his billet.

On 1 September, 1916, Samuel Tucker's number changed to TR/9/16355, on becoming a member of the 43rd Training Reserve Battalion.

On 21 February, 1917, Samuel Tucker was transferred to the Army Reserve, Class W (as an Army Reserve Munitions Worker), for employment with Messrs E. Nuttall and Co., Partington Steel Works, in Irlam, Manchester.

On 17 March, 1917, he was admitted to the Crumpsall Workhouse Infirmary, also known as the Crescent Road Institution Hospital, in a dying condition, suffering from bronchitis, heart failure and dropsy. He died three days later, on 20 March, 1917, officially from cardiac arrest and oedema of the lungs. He was aged 53.

No entry in the Soldiers' Effects List has been found for Samuel Tucker, nor any dependant's claim for a pension.

Samuel Tucker lies buried in St. Philip's Park Cemetery, at Manchester, Lancashire, in a common grave marked by a flat flagstone. He is commemorated on the screen wall in St. Philip's Park Cemetery. His name has not been identified on any local war memorial.

Samuel Tucker's earlier service, during the war in South Africa, earned him the Queen's South Africa Medal, 1899-1902, with clasps: 'Tugela Heights', 'Relief of Ladysmith', 'Orange Free State', 'Transvaal' and 'Laing's Nek'.

Having not served overseas during World War One, Samuel Tucker was not entitled to any war medals for that campaign. However, a surviving document in his service papers suggest that a memorial plaque and memorial scroll were prepared and issued to his widow, to commemorate his sacrifice.