Robert Roland Stanford Tuck

TUCK family followup – correction

Greetings,

It seems a update is in order, in light of recent developments.

I have, for some time, been trying to reconnect with my TUCK family from Norfolk. I have done so. And, it would seem, that our families initial assumption that Robert Roland Stanford TUCK was a Grand Uncle was misguided. You see, Our TUCK family was separated from the UK members during WWII. Long story but senior members of the family, who are sadly no longer with us, had somehow maintained the connection to RRST. Recent efforts to connect have resulted in our discovery that this is not the case.

I had always been proud of the prospects of the connection as one who flies myself but, alas, it was not to be.

However, pride, has reemerged as my Grand Uncles have turned out to be Wesley Edgar Reuben TUCK and Hubert Henry TUCK, of Norfolk. Sadly, both died in WWI, The Great War, and in the same battle of Somme. Wesley, a member of the 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was wounded 16th October 1916 and died of wounds on 25th October 1916. His brother, Hubert, a member of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Forces (CEF), 21st Battalion Canadian Infantry, regiment 60002. was killed Sept 16th 1916 the same day that Wesley was wounded just 4 miles away. ‘Brothers in Arms’ Wesley and Hubert Tuck – 1916 by Andrew C. England © 1998. I want to thank Andrew for his help in putting our families in touch. For those interested, see here.

‘Brothers in Arms’ by Andrew England, Village Voice, Page 39
http://tinyurl.com/2wezo2

Norfolk online Access to Heritage (enter ‘Brothers in Arms’, Library Catalog; results #10):
http://www.noah.norfolk.gov.uk/QSearch.aspx

I have enjoyed reconnecting with my family immensely. It has been amazing to say the least.

And so with that, the record is set straight.

Doug TUCK-Walker

stepped back and trod straight on Gallands foot 😮

That’ll teach him not to invade Poland 😡

An anecdote, I used to work with a guy, ex raf ‘ground crew’, who said he played cricket with Tuck after the war whilst still in the service, 1950’s?….Once he was due to go on leave but Tuck insisted he played instead !! He was a very nice bloke apparently.

Bob Stanford Tuck

Like Denis,I met Bob Stanford Tuck and Adolph Galland at North Weald in 1984.He signed a book for me and I also shook his hand.After reading his excellent biography ‘Fly For Your Life’ by Larry Forrester I couldn’t miss the chance of shaking hands with a living legend! He was very charming,it was a great honour to meet him.
I have a copy of the original hardback book,which has more details of his pre-war days than the later paperback version.
One thing I remember about Galland was his piercing eyes,even though he must have been in his seventies by then.

You may be interested to know that a magazine called ‘After the Battle’ publishes a facsimile of R.R.Stanford-Tuck’s flying log book. It is excellent quality, and according to my latest edition of the magazine, this is still available at the princely cost of £44.95 + post.

One such item on eBay now with 9 hours to go; only 4.49 GBP bid so far!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bob-Stanford-Tuck-Log-Book-Ltd-Edition-N0-0632-of-2500_W0QQitemZ8380667193QQcategoryZ69489QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

And, yes as ZRX61 said, your great-uncle’s pisspot was on eBay last week!!!

Regards

Skipper

Here is a photo of my recently completed Airfix model of Bob Tuck’s Mk1 Hurricane from 1940.

His RAF issue pisspot was on Ebay last week, last bid I saw with 20 hours to go was 35quid…

RRST at Coltishall

I’ve been involved in a couple of Projects that have covered RRST posting at Coltishall, first as CO of 257 Sqn in 1940/41 and his second posting there as the Station Commander after the war. The first was a very large Hurricane model as part of RAF Coltishall’s Aircraft Maintenance Flight’s entry in the Norwich Lord Mayors parade in 1999. The Theme of the parade was ‘The Century’ and the Hurricane (painted as RRST’s second Hurricane on 257 Sqn) was one of three large man carrying models that were pushed through the streets of Norwich. (The other two aircraft were a non-descriptive WWI RFC bi-plane and a Red Arrows Hawk (that had a tendency to break when you touched it). The three aircraft were pushed by a number of the Flight’s personnel while others collected money for charity. All where dressed up in period costume (The WWI crew was dressed up as the cast from Blackadder goes Forth, the Hurricane crew in WWII RAF Uniforms (along with My brother Allen playing the role of RRST in the cockpit as he did the most work on the aircraft) and the rest as modern Dead Sparrow Pilots and Groundcrew). The team won the top prize for the best display of their class on the parade and a photo of the Hurricane and the team that did the parade was in the RAF Newspaper (where the non air minded press officer who put the article in called it a Spitfire!!!),. The photo attached show myself in the Cockpit while the model was at Cottesmore in 2000 (My bother was posted there that year). Unfortunately while there it was vandalised beyond repair. The other Coltishall project I’ve been involved in was the making of a poster showing the 42 types of aircraft that have been based there. The Hurricane of the poster is from 242 Sqn (Bader’s) as there is a plastic copy of that aircraft as a gate guard outside the Station Headquarters. However some of my work will also be going into a book being written on the history of the station (which ceases operations next month) and I’ve done profiles of both of RRST’s personal Hurricanes that were based at Coltishall of which at least one should be included. I do believe that one of the two ended up in the North Sea with RRST being rescued by a trawler. The two profiles are also attached.

Thanks Kieth. Most appreciated!

Doug Walker – ‘on the break’

Doug,

Here is a little known book about the Spitfire designer RJ Mitchell that might interest you. It was written some 20 years ago.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8380882479&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Your great uncle along with 18 other parties were invited by Mitchell ‘s son, Gordon, to make a written contribution.

I was privileged at the time to be asked to write the last chapter, about the then current ‘Spitfire scene’, and to rub shoulders with many of my boyhood heroes.

One day and fifteen hours to run on ebay.

Mark

Hello Doug and welcome to the forum. You may be interested to know that a magazine called ‘After the Battle’ publishes a facsimile of R.R.Stanford-Tuck’s flying log book. It is excellent quality, and according to my latest edition of the magazine, this is still available at the princely cost of £44.95 + post.

You may wish to get hold of a copy whilst you still can. The magazine and logbook is published by Battle of Britain Prints International Ltd, The Mews, Hobbs Cross House, Hobbs Cross, Old Harlow, Essex CM17 0NN. Tele:- 01279 418833 or e-mail [email]hq@afterthebattle.com[/email].

I have my copy here, and it covers the period 1935 to 1954, I’m sure you would find the book of great interest, and is well worth the investment.

Hope this helps,
Regards
Keith

I had the pleasure of meeting R.S Tuck and Adolph Galland at North Weald many years ago, Bob Tuck signed a copy of a book for me, I thanked him stepped back and trod straight on Gallands foot 😮
He didnt sign the book 😀

Thanks both for the reply,

I just stumbled upon a small clip of Tuck at his mushroom farm in Eastry, Kent. Downloaded the free preview which is a bit soft. Just fun trying to see the resemblances between Tuck and his two boys. Interesting to note my dad had two boys as do I.

Wing Commander Stanford Tuck at his Eastry, Kent Mushroom Farm

Doug Walker

Hi Doug – unless I am mixing your relative up with another well known fighter pilot, I understand that his former home in Hersham, Surrey, still exists and neighbouring residents are seeking to have a ‘Blue Plaque’ displayed on the building to commemorate this association (though it may take a while before it gains approval from English Heritage(?). I believe his mother was the chief resident there during WW2 but it would be interesting to know how long your Great Uncle actually lived there.

Welcome Doug.

Be proud of your Great Uncle, by all accounts he was a top bloke.

Regrettably I never had a chance to meet him. I wish I could have done.

Good luck with your quest.

Moggy