100 Days: Courtrai (CAF)

The Courtrai Newfoundland Memorial in Belgium honours the sacrifices and victories of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment during the First World War. The Battle of Courtrai began October 14th,1918. The Newfoundlanders reached the objective when they successfully crossed the Lys River in the pre-dawn hours of the 20th. Pte Thomas Ricketts earned the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Over 6,000 Newfoundlanders enlisted and fought with courage and valour during the Great War: 1,305 were killed and 2,314 were wounded in the cause of restoring peace to Europe.