Early life

Thomas Ricketts was the son of John and Amelia (Cassell) Ricketts. He was born on 15 April 1901 in Middle Arm, a small fishing community about 350 km northwest of St. John’s. From a young age, Thomas and his older brother George worked with their father as fishermen. His family and friends called him "Tommy" and described him as shy and hard-working.

Volunteering for service

George enlisted with the Newfoundland Regiment in July 1915. A year later, Tommy wanted to follow him into service, but at just 15 he was officially too young to join. He didn’t let that stop him.

Tommy told the recruitment office he was 18 and was signed up to serve in September 1916. Army recruiters were touring the dominion of Newfoundland searching for reinforcements to join the Newfoundland Regiment. During the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel in July 1916, the regiment suffered tragic losses. The army didn’t question Tommy when he said he was 18 years old. The recruiters may have ignored his age or believed him. Because he couldn’t read or write, he signed his enlistment papers with a simple "X".

Travel, training and sacrifice

Tommy spent his initial months in uniform in Newfoundland. He travelled to Nova Scotia in January 1917, then to England aboard the S.S. Ausonia in April for more training. Reunited with his brother George overseas, he finally joined the Newfoundland Regiment on the Western Front near Ypres, Belgium, in July 1917. In the months that followed, young Tommy saw action in battles at Langemarck and Poelcapelle. In late November, Tommy was wounded in action near Cambrai and would be sent to England to recover. Two weeks later, George Ricketts died by artillery fire on the front lines of France. Because he has no known grave, George’s name is engraved on the bronze plaques at the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial.

Earning the Victoria Cross

Tommy rejoined his unit on the Western Front in the spring of 1918. The Newfoundlanders spent the summer training and serving in guard roles at Allied headquarters in France. They were back on the front lines in September 1918. This was during a period known as the Last Hundred Days. Today, we know this last big Allied push won the First World War. But make no mistake, the German troops remained a force to be reckoned with. At only 17 years old, Private Thomas Ricketts was now a seasoned soldier.

On 14 October 1918, the Newfoundlanders went into action in Belgium near Ledeghem, just east of Ypres. Tommy’s platoon fought on a misty battlefield. They faced heavy fire and suffered a number of casualties. The platoon persevered to capture three enemy pillboxes. Tommy then volunteered to move forward with his section commander and one machine gun to try to outflank the enemy. A German gun position was firing directly at them. The Newfoundlanders had almost reached their objective when they ran out of ammunition.

Still under heavy fire, Tommy bravely rushed back for more bullets needed to keep driving the enemy back. Thanks to his courage, his platoon successfully captured several machine guns, field guns and German prisoners. Most importantly, Tommy’s actions saved the lives of many of his fellow Newfoundland soldiers that day. For his great bravery, he was awarded the Victoria Cross—the British Empire’s highest award for bravery. His citation states:

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 14th of October, 1918, during the advance from Ledeghem, when the attack was temporarily held up by heavy hostile fire and the platoon to which he belonged suffered severe casualties from the fire of a battery at point-blank range.

Pte. Ricketts at once volunteered to go forward with his section commander and a Lewis gun to attempt to outflank the battery. Advancing by short rushes under heavy fire from enemy machine guns with the hostile battery, their ammunition was exhausted when still 300 yards from the battery. The enemy, seeing an opportunity to get their field guns away, began to bring up their gun teams. Pte. Ricketts, at once realising the situation, doubled back 100 yards under the heaviest machine-gun fire, procured further ammunition, and dashed back again to the Lewis gun, and by very accurate fire drove the enemy and the gun teams into a farm.

His platoon then advanced without casualties, and captured the four field guns, four machine guns, and eight prisoners. A fifth field gun was subsequently intercepted by fire and captured.

By his presence of mind in anticipating the enemy intention and his utter disregard of personal safety, Pte. Ricketts secured the further supply of ammunition which directly resulted in these important captures and undoubtedly saved many lives.”

- London Gazette, no.31108, 6 January 1919

He was the youngest soldier and the only member of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment to receive this prestigious medal during the First World War.

A quiet life

The war ended on 11 November 1918. About two months later, King George V presented Tommy with the Victoria Cross. He sailed home in January and received a hero’s welcome in St. John’s. Tommy attended many events to celebrate his wartime exploits, but he remained humble. Sergeant Thomas Ricketts, VC, learned to read and write. Then, in 1925, he began studying at the new Memorial University College in St. John’s. It was built to honour the Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who died in uniform during the First World War.

Tommy became a respected pharmacist. He lived a quiet life in St. John’s where he eventually owned a pharmacy. Tommy was given a state funeral when he died in 1967.