Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick Arthur and Elizabeth Ducker. The War Diary entry for the 1st October 1917 records. TRENCHES IN FRONT OF POLYGON WOOD, J.16.a.7.9. to J.10.c.7.6. At 4.00am Situation reported normal by Companies. At 5.25am Enemy put down a heavy barrage on front Company and POLYGON WOOD, and at the same time put up a smoke screen all along the Battalion front. At 5.27am The enemy attacked through the smoke screen. S.O.S. sent up. First wave of the enemy were driven off by “A” Company by Lewis gun and rifle fire. Captain A. A. D. LEE M.C. killed. At 5.30am The enemy second wave driven off on our front, but enemy attack on Battalion of right flank successful. Right flank of “A” Company (front line Company) threatened. At 5.40am 2 platoons of “D” Company (who were in reserve from J.10.c.1.3. to J.10.c.1.1.) under Lt. Col. P. E. BENT D.S.O. and “B” Company (who were in support from J.10.c.6.4. to J.10.c.6.0.) under Lt. BURN immediately counter attacked enemy. Counter attack was entirely successful and drove enemy from our front. Lt. Col. BENT killed whilst leading the charge. At 5.45am The enemy continued to make headway on our right flank in J.16.a. and launched his 3rd wave against our front. Two platoons of “C” Company sent up to counter attack enemy on our right flank. Lt. BURN killed. At 6.00am “C” Company counter attack reported to have stopped enemy advance. 2 platoons of “C” Company sent up to reinforce and to get in touch with troops on right flank who had been driven back some distance. Enemy attacking troops driven off but owing to heavy casualties in front Company, a defensive line was organised approximately 100 yards in rear of our front line, along the eastern edge of POLYGON WOOD. Enemy shelling in POLYGON WOOD extremely heavy, causing many casualties. 2nd Lt. BARRATT killed. 2nd Lt’s. FAULKNER, SCOTT and HALLAM wounded. “C” Company established a defensive flank from J.10.c.6.0. in front of CAMERON HOUSE to J.16.a.2.7. Full report sent to Brigade and reinforcements asked for. Enemy repeatedly attempted to advance but was driven back by our Lewis gun and rifle fire, and the line was held against further attack. Touch with the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT was maintained throughout on our left, but touch could not be kept with the troops on our right. At 9.30am Reinforcements from the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT commenced to arrive, 2 platoons sent up to reinforce front line and right flank. Enemy continued to shell extremely heavily, particularly the western edge of POLYGON WOOD - GLENCORSE WOOD – BLACK WATCH CORNER track. The Companies of the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT who had suffered heavy casualties in the barrage and were approximately 70 strong in all arrived as reinforcements. One Company sent to the defensive flank in J.16.a. and one Company sent to form a second line in J.10.c. central, 100 yards inside the eastern edge of POLYGON WOOD. Enemy shelling extremely heavy. Enemy aeroplanes were also very aggressive. One enemy plane flying 200 feet above our trenches was shot down by Cpl. OUTHWAITE and landed in ‘no mans land’ where it was destroyed by shell fire. At 10.50am No further enemy attack. Shelling still heavy. Many enemy stretcher bearers seen carrying Boche wounded. Enemy casualties appear to be very heavy. At 12.00 noon Major HOWITT, Officer Commanding 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT arrived at Battalion HQ J.10.c.1.2. with one Company of 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. Major HOWITT took command of the sector. Enemy prisoners state that another attack will take place at dusk, all arrangements made accordingly. Consolidation and improvement of positions carried on throughout the afternoon. Movement extremely difficulty on account of snipers and machine gun fire. At 1.15pm The enemy again commenced to shell heavily but did not attack. At 4.30pm The enemy reported by front Company to be massing in CAMERON COVERT and coming over the slope J.10.b. These parties were dispersed by our fire. At 5.30pm Enemy shelling increased. At 7.00pm S.O.S. from Brigade on our right. Our barrage came down almost at once and continued for an hour. No enemy movement seen after our barrage stopped. At 11.00pm S.O.S. again reported on left and right. No enemy action on our front. Enemy fired thousands of Very lights during our bombardment but did not shell heavily. Night passed comparatively quietly after this.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday May 7th, 1915

WHITWICK CHURCHMEN SERVING IN THE ARMY

In an interesting little booklet published as the first annual report of the Whitwick Church Men’s Service it is stated that 16 of the members including the secretary, assistant secretary, and three of the stewards, are serving in the Army. Three of them – Corpl. C. Yearby, Lance-Corpl. L. E. Brotherhood and Pte. W. Adams – were at the time the report was issued, in the thick of the fighting in Northern France and as far as can be known most of the others will also be in or near the fighting line before many weeks are past. We are proud to record the names of our soldier members says the publication, these being as follows.

Sergt. Charles Stone, 7962, 7th Seaforth Highlanders.
Corp. S.S., Charles Yearby, 1780, Z. Battery, R.H.A. Now in France.
Lce-Corp. Albert William Hanson, 2346, A. Company, 5th Leicesters. Secretary of the Men’s Service Sidesman of our Church, and Secretary of the Men’s Money Club.
Lce-Corp. Louis E. Brotherhood, 8503, 1st Northumberland Fusiliers. Now in France.
Pte. J. Harold Pegg, 13176, B. Company, 8th Leicesters. Sunday School teacher, Secretary of Communicant’s Guild, Secretary and Vice-Captain of Bell-ringers, and Steward of the Men’s Service.
Pte. Walter Adams, 11841, Leicestershire Imperial Yeomanry. Bell ringer, and Steward of the Men’s Service. Now in France.
Pte. Alfred Charles Pegg, Leicestershire Imperial Yeomanry. Assistant Secretary of Men’s Service, Choirman and Assistant Scoutmaster.
Pte. G. Harry Webster, 10th Middlesex, Chairman.
Pte. Samuel E. Perry, 12135, G. Company, 3rd Leicesters, Scoutmaster.
Pte. Frederick W. Ducker, 1193, A. Company, 5th Leicesters.
Pte. John E. D. Ducker, 15719, D. Company, 7th Leicesters.
Pte. Edward Walton, 10328, C. Company, 6th Leicesters.
Pte. Oliver Bonser, 13125, 8th Leicesters.
Driver Harold E. West, 031437, Mechanical Transport, A.S.C.
Pte. George W. Underwood, 2456, 5th Leicesters.
Pte. Ernest Tugby, 16485, G. Company, 3rd Leicesters.

(Photographs of nine of the men accompanied the article)

Coalville Times article - Friday November 23rd, 1917.

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Lance-Corporal J. E. Ducker (Whitwick) of the Leicestershire Regiment, previously reported wounded, is now reported as wounded and missing.

Coalville Times article - Friday May 9th, 1918

Local CasualtiesCorporal John Edward Ducker, of the Leicestershire Regiment, is stated to have died while a prisoner of war in Germany. His parents reside at Leicester Road, Whitwick, and they have received notice from his authorities that the soldier’s name has appeared in an official list published by the enemy of prisoners who have died in their country. His friends have not heard anything of him for nearly 12 months, when he was reported as missing.

Coalville Times article - Friday September 6th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Lance-Corporal J. E. Ducker of the Leicestershire Regiment, officially reported killed in action, was a Whitwick man, his relatives residing in Leicester Road.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 28/5/2018