Samuel Edmund Tucker (Major) born at Ballarat, was a married 38 year old masseur when he was commissioned to the 39th Infantry Battalion on May 1st 1916. On May 27th he embarked aboard the Ascanius and sailed to England where he was promoted to Major. He crossed to France in November where his leadership attracted a recommendation for the French Legion d’Honneur, although the award was never made. In June 1917 he was wounded in action, gassed at Messines in Belgium. From this point his service was dominated by illnesses, including appendicitis, which resulted in him being hospitalised or in recovery for 12 months. With doubts about his health and capacity to return to a leadership position in the field he was returned to Australia aboard the Boonah, disembarked at Melbourne on September 20th 1918 and his commission was terminated on October 4th.

His brothers Leslie and William also served in the AIF and are honoured with trees in the Avenue.