First Name: | John Ayre | Last Name: | TUCKER | |
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Date of Death: | 01/11/1914 | Lived/Born In: | South Kensington | |
Rank: | Second Lieutenant | Unit: | Royal Field Artillery 25 Brigade 115Battery | |
Memorial Site: | ||||
Current Information:Age-20 20A, Bute Street, South Kensington Ypres Town Cemetery
The exact circumstances of the death of John Tucker on 1st November, 1914, are not known but artillery men faced many dangers and during the course of the war nearly 50,000 of them were killed. Their gun batteries were targeted by the enemy’s guns which accounted for many of their casualties. Others were sent forward to act as ‘spotters’ which meant going forward to the front line and signalling back to the guns necessary changes in target and other vital information. Keeping the batteries supplied with ammunition was a dangerous task as the enemy guns would target the known supply routes, especially at night. Brigade Diaries rarely shine any light on casualties sustained, unless of course they were officers and even then information is sparse. Between 21st October and 22nd November, 1914 a desperate fight took place around the Belgium city of Ypres, the first of three major battles that were to be fought there during the course of the war. British troops entered Ypres in October. The 1st and 2nd Divisions plus the 3rd Cavalry Division had made their way up from the Aisne as part of the “Race to the Sea”, whilst the 7th Division came west to Ypres after Antwerp had fallen. The Germans knew that Ypres was the gateway to the Channel ports and that these were vital to Britain’s war effort so they poured reinforcements into the area. The fighting fell into three distinct battles; the Battle of Langemarck, 21-24 October, the Battle of Gheluvelt, 29-31 October and the Battle of Nonne Bosschen, 11 November. Ypres did not fall to the Germans but its defence during these two months resulted in the destruction of much of the old regular British Army. 25 Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery went to France in September, 1914 as part of 5th Division and saw action during First Ypres. On 1st November, even though 25 Brigade was in Corps reserve, 115 Battery were in action about a mile south-east of Ypres |
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