Charles Tucker was born in Sittingbourne, Kent on 1st December 1863.  He married Amelia Ingram in October 1891.  Their son, Charles Wesley was born two years later followed by a daughter, Amelia in 1895.

 At the time of the Houndsditch incident, Tucker had 26 years’ service and so was eligible to retire with a pension. However, he had remained in the police service in anticipation of the considerable demands that would be placed upon policing during 1911 which would see the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary.  He was known for his particular interest in children’s welfare and had been in charge of many cases of child cruelty and neglect.  

Tucker’s wife Amelia gave evidence at the inquest into his death.  She stated that she had last seen her husband on the Friday evening of his death at about quarter past nine, when he had left their home in Douglas Buildings, Marshalsea, Borough, to go on duty.  He was 46 years of age and in good health.  The next morning, a police Inspector had come to her house and informed her that her husband was dead.  Amelia had then gone to the London Hospital to identify his body.  Newspaper reports stated that she ‘wept bitterly while she was giving her evidence, and had to be assisted to and from the witness box’.

Tucker was posthumously awarded the King’s Police Medal for Gallantry.