When a platoon under Lt. Stanley Newman were unable to advance any further against the murderous gunfire from a German strong point, L/Cpl Matthew Brazil and Pte Thomas Ricketts willingly stepped forward. Taking a Lewis Machine Gun and extra ammunition pans packed in special carriers they continued to move forward first attracting the attention of a sniper who fired several rounds before suddenly four machine guns and one artillery piece erupted, unleashing withering fire aimed directly at them. Moving in short 10 yard rushes they sprinted ahead as Tommy fired the Lewis Gun from his hip, then they dropped, caught their breath, got up and went another 10 yards while firing the Lewis Gun. They moved approximately 200 yards across a ploughed field with little cover, to bring them within 300 yards of their target.

Ricketts fired on the Germans but quickly exhausted the remainder of the Lewis Gun ammunition. The Germans immediately seized the opportunity to bring up their horses and wagons to remove the guns. Ricketts seeing that the Germans were moving up their gun teams made a hasty decision to double back for the dropped magazine carriers some 100 yards behind them. Ricketts was seeking revenge for the death of his brother George at Cambrai and he was determined it was now down to me or them. Leaving Brazil in the forward position laying down sporadic covering fire along with Newman’s platoon, Ricketts took flight in search of the carriers. How he managed to dodge the fire from four German machine guns and an artillery piece firing point blank, concentrating their fire solely on him was nothing short of miraculous.

“The way it was with me … was that I was determined that I would get them or they would get me.”

Ricketts picked up two Lewis Gun magazine carriers. The Germans seeing Ricketts returning with more ammunition turned their attention on him once again in desperation to save the situation. With a spray of bullets and artillery shells chasing him across the fire swept ground Ricketts repeated the miraculous 100 yard sprint for a second time carrying the extra load.

Ricketts safely returned to the spot he had left the Lewis Gun. He loaded the gun and through accurate fire on the German gun crews drove the survivors into a nearby farmhouse. He dashed forward to the farmhouse firing the Lewis Gun from the hip in bursts, poked it in through the door and captured eight prisoners, four artillery guns and four machine guns.

Older brother, Pte. George Ricketts, Regimental # 1703 enlisted in the Newfoundland Regiment in 1915. At the Battle of Cambrai both brothers saw action together. Thomas was wounded on the first day, George would be killed on December 3rd, 1917. The death of his brother made a deep and lasting impression on Thomas.

The Victoria Cross, instituted 1856 by Queen Victoria, is the Commonwealth’s premier military decoration for gallantry. It is awarded in recognition of the most exceptional bravery displayed in the presence of the enemy, although in rare instances the decoration has been given to mark other courageous acts. The first recipients saw action in the Crimean War.

The French Croix de Guerre is a military decoration of France. It was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France. The Croix de Guerre may either be awarded as an individual or unit award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. The medal is awarded to those who have been “mentioned in dispatches”, meaning a heroic deed or deeds were performed meriting a citation from an individual’s headquarters unit.

British War Medal – The silver medal was awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued.

Allied Victory Medal – The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal also received the Victory Medal. To earn the Victory Medal a Newfoundland soldier would have had to have entered a a theatre of war in France, Belgium or Gallipoli.

The Distinguished Conduct Medal, or DCM, was established in 1854 by Queen Victoria as a decoration for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration (second only to the Victoria Cross), until it was discontinued in 1993. The medal was also awarded to non-commissioned military personnel of other Commonwealth Dominions and Colonies.

Blue Puttees in training on the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake, Spetember 1914.

Original C Company embarcking for overseas duty winter 1915.

Wounded soldiers in England days after the attack at Beaumont-Hamel on July 1, 1916.

Newfoundland War Memorial, Monchy-le-Preux, France, 1920’s

The Newfoundland War Memorial, Masnières, France during contructions in the early 1920’s.

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment leading the 9th (Scottish) Divison over the Rhine River into occupied Germany, December 1918.

L/Cpl Matthew Brazil was awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal and the French Croix de Guerre for the same action as Pte. Thomas Ricketts on Oct 14, 1918. Brazil was also awarded the Military Medal for gallantry for action in the Spring of 1918.

King George V invited Thomas Ricketts into his private residence to receive the Victoria Cross during a rare private investiture, all the more poignant as the King was in mourning due to the loss of his young son John.

On February 10, 1967, Tommy Ricketts, died from a heart attack while at work in his pharmacy. He was given a state funeral and was buried in the Anglican Cemetery on Forest Road. Pictured here is the honour guard of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment escorting Ricketts to his final resting place.

This memorial to Ricketts action is being erected on a private farm near the location of the German strong point that Ricketts was responsible for capturing.

Thomas Ricketts along with other soldiers from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment visit a school on Bell Island shortly after his return home. Ricketts is seated in front with white scarf.

The new Bishop Field College opened in 1928 after Thomas Ricketts had passed through. The original building stood on nearby Colonial Street on the same plot of land.

Six members of the Church Lads’ Brigade. Left to Right: Jack Andrews (Royal Newfoundland Regiment CSM John Donald Andrews), Bert Colton (Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve), Robert Downton, Harold Rendell (Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve), Earl Best (Royal Newfoundland Regiment), Thomas Ricketts V.C., C. de G (Royal Newfoundland Regiment).

Thomas Ricketts, taken in his pharmacy late in life. Taken around July 1, as he is wearing a Forget-Me-Not in remembrance of his comrades.

Ricketts Drugs in the 1960’s on the corner of Water Street and Job Street. It was here that Ricketts died of a massive heart attack in February 1967.

On the site of the pharmacy today is a monument to the heroic actions of the only soldier of The Royal Newfoundland Regiment to have been awarded the Victoria Cross.