Gunner: 1599 Harold Edgar TUCKER.

33rd INFANTRY BATTALION

Cadet: Harold Edgar TUCKER.

Gunner: 1599/Lance Corporal: 86043 Harold Edgar TUCKER. 36th Australian Heavy Artillery - Special Services.

Born: 18th July 1897. Murrurundi, Pages River, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:23637/1896.

Married: 1937. Paddington, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:14320/1937.

Wife: Eunice Eden Alice Tucker. nee: Davidson. (1902-2005)

Died: 20th September 1994. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:

Father: Stephen Tucker. (1849-1926)

Mother: Catherine "Kate" Amelia Tucker. nee: Barlow. (1854-1931)

INFORMATION

Harold Edgar Tucker served with the 33rd Infantry Senior Cadets for 4 years and the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery prior to his enlistment with the Armed Forces.

AUSTRALIA SENIOR CADETS COMMONWEALTH MILITARY COMPETITIONS, Brigade Competitions 1912-13 Champion Team. CADET H.E.TUCKER 33RD BATTN. Engraved.

The Competition was held at Sydney, 6-7 June 1913. K Coy 36th Battn was the Newington College cadet unit. An account of the presentation of medals stated that a parade of four companies of cadets, inspected by Lieutenant-Colonel A. W. Wallack, C.B., District Commandant, took place on the Newington College grounds on Saturday afternoon 14 March 1914. The occasion was the presentation of gold medals, silver badges, and ribbons to the champion team in the Commonwealth series of military competitions.

Companies from areas 34A (Enmore), 35A (Marrickville), 36A (Stanmore), and 36B (Petersham) took part in the parade, and as the young soldiers wheeled, formed, re-formed, and after a variety of evolutions finally marched, colours flying and bands playing, past the District Commandant and his staff, the spectacle was not lacking in impressiveness, though, except for the winning company, the marching occasionally would have been none the worse for a little more drill.

Among those present were Lieutenant-Colonel Wallack, Lieutenant-Colonel Luscombe, A.A.G., Lieutenant Brown, A. and I. Staff, Colonel Cox, 8th Lancers, Colonel Pearce, A.F.A., Rev. C. J. Prescott, headmaster of Newington College, Captain Smith, Brigade Major of the 9th Brigade, Major: BUCHANAN, CO of 36th Battalion, Major Reddish, CO of 35th Battalion, Captain Caunt, CO of 34th Battalion, and the officers commanding companies. A large silver shield, presented by the British Australian Tobacco Company, was also won by K Company.

Harold's Senior Cadet Medal: Brigade Competitions 1912-13 Champion Team. CADET H.E.TUCKER 33RD BATTN was acquired in September 2022 and is now in the Harrower Collection.

Harold enlisted with the 36th Australian Heavy Artillery on the 28th August 1918 at South Head as he was still serving with the 5 Field Artillery Brigade for 2 years. He embarked overseas on 14 October 1918 per "Werema" but the ship was recalled on the 21st December 1918 and was discharged from the AIF on the 5th January 1919.

Harold re enlisted with Special Services AIF on the 16th June 1919 with service number: 86053 escorting German Nationals back to Germany on board His Majesty's Transport "Ypiranga" and was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal.

S.S "YPIRANGA"

Harold was promoted to the rank of Corporal for the voyage only on the 18th August and disembarked in London, England on the 12th October 1919 and reverted in rank to Lance Corporal. Harold returned to Australia on the 22nd January 1920 and was discharged from the AIF on the 27th March 1920. Harold was issued his General Service Medal:87037 to GNR 1599 H.E.TUCKER 36 AHA. AIF. We was not entitled to receive the Victory Medal as he did not serve in an active war theatre. His Returned from Active Service Badge was numbered: 50680.

Family Information

Harold was a single 21 year old Shipping Agent and Soldier upon his enlistment with the AIF. His mother was listed as his Next of Kin who lived at 23 Waverley Street, Waverley, N.S.W. Brother Thomas Cecil TUCKER (B Company) 33rd Infantry Senior Cadets and enlisted with the Army Service Corps.

The medal was part of an inherited stamp collection passed down to me

Definitely original as been sitting idle for more than 75 years!!

I tried to find out more about Cadet HE Tucker 33rd Battalion but no luck
The only person that would have known is not here anymore

I was told Only 162 were awarded that year. Its quite rare.

Cheers
Anthony

Military Records