[8] In December 1899, following the outbreak of the Second Boer War, Tucker was ordered by the commander-in-chief of forces in South Africa, Lord Roberts, to take command of the 7th division, participating in the relief of Kimberley and the advance on Bloemfontein.

[10] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in November 1900, in recognition of his services in South Africa,[11] and invested as such by King Edward VII on 13 May 1902, after his return to the UK.

[12] In his final despatch from South Africa in June 1902, Lord Kitchener, Commander-in-Chief of the forces during the latter part of the war, described Tucker as an officer who "has never feared responsibility, or failed in giving emphatic pronouncement to the good common-sense of which he is possessed".

[13] Tucker returned to South Africa with his new wife in June 1902,[14] but the war had now ended with the Peace of Vereeniging, and he left the following month from Cape Town on the SS Canada, arriving at Southampton in late July.

[15] He was promoted to lieutenant-general in the South Africa Honours list published on 26 June 1902,[16] and two months later commanded the Colonial forces present in London during the coronation of King Edward VII.