Private Ambrose Percival TUCKETT

Ambrose Percival Tuckett was born the youngest of 7 children in Nathalia, Victoria in March 1894 to parents Thomas George Tuckett and Alice nee Fleming.

On the 1st of March 1916, he married Violet Maude Gibb at Parkville in Victoria.

Ambrose enlisted in the A.I.F. on the 3rd of October 1916 at the age of 22 years and 5 months.  He gave his occupation as Storeman and was married to Violet Tuckett first of 6 Lambeth Street, Kensington and later at 23 Southgate Street, Parkville.

On enlistment, Ambrose was still serving with the Citizen Forces.  He was 5 foot 7 and a half inches tall with a medium complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.  Religious denomination Church of England.

He initially served in A company of the 23rd battalion but within a month was transferred to H company of the 2nd Battalion then into K company and finally to the 24th Battalion just a week before embarkation on the ship 'Hororata' on the 23rd of November 1916.

Australian War Memorial collection
Copyright expired - public domain

The colour patch of the 24th Australian infantry battalion.

They arrived at Plymouth, England on the 29th of January 1917. 
Five months later he was in France with his battalion which 
"took part in its first major offensive around Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in July and August 1917. 
The Battalion got little rest during the bleak winter of 1916-17 alternating between the front and labouring tasks. When patrolling no man's land the men of the 24th adopted a unique form of snow camouflage - large white nighties bought in Amiens.
In May 1917 the battalion participated in the successful, but a costly second battle of Bullecourt. It was involved for only a single day ' 3 May ' but suffered almost 80 percent casualties. The AIF's focus for the rest of the year was the Ypres sector in Belgium, and the 24th's major engagement there was the seizure of Broodseinde Ridge."

Ambrose was recorded as "Sick" a casualty on the 22nd of September 1917 later being classified as Shell Shocked. 
He had pains all over the body, very shaky hands and couldn't sleep due to the pain.
On the afternoon of the 20th of September, he claimed he was blown over by a shell and felt stunned for a while, very giddy and shaky and was taken to M.O. by Sgt Major.

On the 21st of November, his next of kin were advised he was wounded.

In the next entry, it says he was admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital at Stourbridge with Severe shell shock on the 15th of December 1917.

National Archives Australia

On January 2nd, 1918 his next of kin were advised that he was in the hospital and on January 23rd they were advised that his condition was stationary and by the 25th he was convalescent.

His next of kin were advised on the 27th of February, 1918 that he was returning to Australia.

Returned to Australia from England per "Dunluce Castle" on the 24th of January 1918.
Discharged 30th of April 1918.

Ambrose went on to have 4 children with Violet.
He later married Harriet Jessie Cayzer nee Albon in 1945 and they also had 4 children.

Ambrose Percival Tuckett died of Myocardial infarction at Leongatha on the 14th of June 1958.  He is buried in the Leongatha cemetery.