249405 2Lt. Gordon Elijah Tucker British Army 1st/4th Btn. Wiltshire Regiment from:Frome Gordon Tucker was my father. At the beginning of WW1, he was an organ scholar at Cambridge, but hastened to join up. His CO of 1st/4th Wiltshires was Lord Radnor, who told him to raise a band and write a regimental march, as well as having a platoon. Sent to India, the battalion was in demand because it had a band and a Guards RSM, so was very smart.
At the end of 1917, they were ordered to join Allenby's Army in Palestine. Lord Radnor was told to leave the band behind as it would not be needed in Palestine. My father pointed out that the band's instruments were Lord Radnor's personal belongings, so he sent the band off without instruments. Without instruments they were no use, so they were sent back to the battalion.
In Palestine, my father's sergeant was killed at the 3rd Battle of Gaza, and my father was shot through the mouth. He next went with the battalion through the Battle of Megiddo. After the Turkish defeat, my father had to change the band into an entertainment party.
My father took many photos of his time in India and Palestine, and I gave them to the Wardrobe Museum in Salisbury. I believe they are still there.
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