GENERAL TUCKER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 42, 19 February 1900, Page 2

GENERAL TUCKER.

Captain Johnson, writing of Major--General C. Tucker, formerly in command at Madras, and now leading tho Seventh Division with Lord Roberts' army, says: —General Tucker, C.8., served with the 80-th Regiment during the Bhootan expedition of 1865. (medal with clasp); served in the Perak operations in 1876 against the Rajah Tela; as brigade-major (medal and clasp), commanded the left attack in the operations against Sekukuni in 1878. 'Commanded the 80th Regiment on the Swazi border in the Zulu War of 1879, and subsequently the troops at Luneberg; also commanded the regiment in Wood's flying column during the march through Zululahd, and in the engagement at Uhmdi (C.B. medal with clasp). . General Tucker shines in the pigskin, and has a record as a steeplechase rider. As showing the coolness of the man, a good story is told about how, when a captain, he was riding in the Grand Military Steeplechase, when his mount (a pure white gelding knOWn as Gahazi—Le(a)per,white as snow),having cleared the last jump—a ditch and bank —fell dead, tumbling all of a heap on its gallant rider. As the mishap took place in front of the. grandstand plenty of help was forthcoming. One of the soldiers remarked that the -captain wa.s done for, when a half smothered voice wa.. heard to exclaim from under the superincumbent mass of horse flesh. "Take off the Carcase, you d fools." General Tucker haVihg served with his old regimettt, the 80th, in the Cape Colony, in various parts of the TtaMva&l, ahd in 'Zuluknd) and

having, like all great sportsmen, an ?ye for country and a quickness of perception, and, moreover, having commanded a force of Boers during the expedition against Sekukuni, will be the man of all others to shine, in South Africa. Needless to say that should he lead his division against an entrenched Boer force and lose a thousand men whilst getting in touch with the foe he will not hesitate to sacrifice another five hundred in rushing their earthworks, and giving the Dutchmen n taste of the bayonet. Years will have tempered his bravery with discretion, and unless certain of winning a position by a bold stroke he will prefer to save his men if he can gain his object by pounding the enemy from a distance.