Private 13544 Arthur Tuck

Killed in Action on Monday, 26th August 1918, age 23.
Buried in Grave IV. B. 12. at Warlencourt British Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France.

7th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 33rd Brigade of 11th Division.
Formerly 13544 8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment.

Son of Mr and Mrs A. Tuck, of 69, Maxstoke St., Small Heath, Birmingham. Native of Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Birmingham, Resident: Small Heath.

First landed France & Flanders, 14th July 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/242221/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Arthur Tuck registered December quarter 1894 at Dudley.

1901 Census
37 Wolseley Street, Aston, Birmingham.
Alfred Tuck (30, Railway Guard, born Tipton), his wife Elizabeth (29, born Tipton), and their 2 children: Edith (9, born Tipton), Arthur (6, born Tipton).

1911 Census
69 Maxstoke Street, Small Heath, Birmingham.
Alfred Tuck (41, Railway Guard, born Tipton), his wife Elizabeth (40, born Tipton), and their 3 surviving children of 4: Edith (19, Table Hand at Printers, born Tipton), Arthur (16, Grocer's Assistant, born Tipton), and Percy (10, Schoolboy, born Birmingham).

Personal Data

According to Arthur's Medal Index Card he arrived in France on 14th July 1915. This suggests he was initially with the 8th South Staffs as they landed in France on this date, whereas the 7th South Staffs first landed in Gallipoli on the 7th August 1915. This is confirmed by Arthur's Medal Roll for the Victory and British War Medals which records 8th Battalion.

Arthur arrived at Field Ambulance No. 51 on 13th October 1917 with "bayonet wound - right foot"; he was forwarded on the same day to one of Casualty Clearing Stations No. 4, 47 or 61. These were all located at Dozinghem which is about 8 miles north-west of Ypres. He may well have been wounded on the previous day, the 12th October 1917, as the 8th South Staffs had lost severely on that day (the First Battle of Passchendaele) with 5 Officers and 108 Other Ranks being killed. Amongst those killed was Tipton man James Neale.

At the time of Arthur's death, he was serving in the 7th South Staffs. He would have either been transferred to the 7th on his recovery from wounds (bayonet wound to foot), or when the 8th South Staffs was disbanded in February 1918.

After Arthur's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £27/8/5d (27 pounds, 8 shillings and 5 pence); this was paid to his father, Alfred G., in January 1919. His War Gratuity was £19/0/0d (19 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his father in December 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Arthur had enlisted in approximately August 1914.

Arthur’s mother, Mrs Elizabeth Tuck, was awarded a Dependant’s Pension of 5/0d (5 shillings) per week, effective from 17th May 1919. The pension transferred to Arthur’s father, Aldred Tuck, after Elizabeth's death in December quarter 1952. Their address at that time was 322 Somerville Road, Small Heath, Birmingham.

Action resulting in his death

The 7th South Staffs occupied the Hulluch Sector near Loos from May 1918, moving on 25th August from Hulloch to Monchy Breton by light railway for a few days rest. They entrained at 11pm at Bully-Grenay in open coal wagons, arriving at Monchy Breton at 5am on the 26th. This is about 15 miles north west of Arras and well behind the front line.

It seems strange that Arthur Tuck is recorded as killed in action on August 26th when the 7th South Staffs were en-route from Hulloch to Monchy Breton, about 40 miles from Warlencourt where Arthur is buried. Arthur was originally buried just north of Beaulencourt (at Trench Map Reference 57c.N.12.c.1.4), about 3.5 miles West of Warlencourt, but he was exhumed and re-interred in Warlencourt British Cemetery in 1920. Another 7th South Staffs man, Lance Corporal J. Smith, is also buried in Warlencourt having been killed on the previous day. This suggests that this may not be an error, but possibly some 7th South Staffs men were detatched from their unit. It is very unlikley that the reason for this will ever be known.

Newspaper Cuttings

Birmingham Mail 17th September 1918
LOCAL ROLL OF HONOUR.
Pte. A. Tuck (24), S. Staffs. R., son of Mr. and Mrs. Tuck, 69 Maxstoke Street, Small Heath. Enlisted September 7, 1914, and served 3 years and 2 months in France.