Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War St. Quentin September 1918 operations M.M. group of three awarded to Private B. H. Tuckett, 24th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, a stretcher bearer who continued his gallant work of rescuing the wounded undeterred by incessant machine-gun and shell fire: he was himself wounded or gassed on three separate occasions between October 1917 and September 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (6405 Pte. B. H. Tuckett, 24/Aust Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (6405 Pte. B. H. Tuckett, 24 Bn. A.I.F.), contact marks and somewhat polished, thus nearly very fine (3) £800-1000

M.M. London Gazette 17 June 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘This man acted as stretcher bearer throughout the attack on Mt. St. Quentin near Peronne on 1 September 1918, and displayed a courage and devotion to duty which were of the highest order. Undeterred by incessant machine-gun and shell fire, he continued his work of rescuing the wounded, and he worked unremittingly until every casualty was removed from the field. During the operation his company trench was heavily shelled by 6.9s and among the casualties were two wounded men who had been buried. Though the bombardment still continued Tuckett, without hesitation, worked and dug these men out, tended their wounds, and carried them back to safety. His utter disregard for his own safety was instrumental in saving the lives of many of his comrades.’

Bertie Hector Tuckett was born at Nathalia, Victoria in 1891 and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Melbourne in October 1916. Drafted to the 24th Battalion, he arrived in France in mid-June 1917 and was wounded by a gunshot wound to his left elbow that October; he was evacuated to England. Rejoining his unit in the Field in February 1918, he was gassed at the end of the following month and, having been treated back in England, rejoined the 24th in the Field in July. Thus ensued his gallant deeds at St. Quentin, near Peronne on 1 September, during the course of which he received bullet wounds to his right leg and elbow, thereby ensuring him yet another ticket to ‘Blighty’. He was finally discharged in December 1919; sold with copied service record and M.M. recommendation.