Stories from Beaumont-Hamel Private Thomas Ricketts, V.C.

Remembrance

Stories from Beaumont-Hamel Private Thomas Ricketts, V.C.

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Stories From Beaumont-Hamel Private Thomas Ricketts, V.C. A story that we like to tell that has a little bit of a happier ending is the story of the Ricketts brothers. George Ricketts unfortunately is on our plaques because at 18 he enlisted to serve for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. He grew up in Middle Arm, White Bay, working as a fisherman with his family. He served for about a year until his younger brother Thomas enlisted as well. He lied and said he was 18 years and three months, when in reality he was just after turning 15. He was not caught, so the brothers ended up serving together for the first and last time in November of 1917 at the Battle of Cambrai near the town of Masnières. Tommy was wounded on November 20th and invalided while his brother stayed at the front. George unfortunately was killed by a shell on December 3rd 1917. Tommy healed. He returned to the front and in 1918 he became the youngest ever Victoria Cross winner in an army-combatant role.

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