Thomas "Tommy" Ricketts VC (April 15, 1901 – February 10, 1967) was a Newfoundland soldier and recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and Commonwealth forces. Ricketts is the youngest army recipient fighting in a combatant role.

Victoria Cross

Ricketts, who was 17 years old and a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

in the 1st Battalion,

Royal Newfoundland Regiment The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (R NFLD R) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 5th Canadian Division's 37 Canadian Brigade Group. Predecessor units trace their origins to 1795, and since 1949 Royal New ...

during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, was cited in the '' London Gazette'' for his actions on October 14, 1918. King

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Qu ...

presented Ricketts with his VC at

York Cottage York Cottage is a house in the grounds of Sandringham House in Norfolk, England. History The cottage was originally called the Bachelor's Cottage, and built as an overflow residence for Sandringham House. In 1893, it was given by the future ...

on the

Sandringham Estate Sandringham House is a country house in the parish of Sandringham, Norfolk, England. It is one of the royal residences of Charles III, whose grandfather, George VI, and great-grandfather, George V, both died there. The house stands in a estate ...

on January 19, 1919. At the ceremony, the King reportedly stated: "This is the youngest VC in my army." General

Dighton Probyn General Sir Dighton Macnaghten Probyn, (21 January 1833 – 20 June 1924) was a British Army officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Co ...

, one of the oldest living VC holders at the time, was also present at the investiture. While Ricketts is the youngest VC army recipient in a combatant role, he is not the youngest VC recipient. Hospital Apprentice Andrew Fitzgibbon and Drummer Thomas Flinn (who despite strictly being a non-combatant, received his VC for hand-to-hand combat during the Indian Mutiny), both aged 15, were awarded the VC in non-combatant roles. While Ricketts, Fitzgibbon and Flinn were all living VC recipients, Jack Cornwell of the Royal Navy was awarded the VC posthumously for his actions at the Battle of Jutland at age 16. Ricketts was also awarded France's Croix de Guerre with Golden Star in 1919.

After the war

After the war, Ricketts studied pharmacy, and opened a business on Water Street in St. John's. He was the youngest living VC recipient from the time of his award until 1940. Ricketts was given a state funeral when he died in 1967, and is commemorated by a memorial on the former site of his pharmacy. Ricketts is buried at the Anglican Cemetery, Forest Road, St. John's,

Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic Canada, Atlantic region. The province comprises t ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. Ricketts' medals are on display at

The Rooms The Rooms is a cultural facility in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The facility opened in 2005 and houses the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Muse ...

in St. John's,

. Ricketts is sometimes erroneously referred to as having been a Canadian soldier during the First World War. Newfoundland was a self-governing

dominion The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire. "Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 192 ...

at the time and did not become a province of

until 1949. The sports arena in Baie Verte is named in honour of Ricketts. In 2018, the "Tommy Ricketts Memorial Peace Park" opened in Conception Bay South.

References

External links

Newfoundland's Reluctant War Hero: Thomas Ricketts V.C., C.de G.
"Newfoundland"

"Thomas Ricketts' Victoria Cross donated to the Canadian War Museum"
Legion Magazine article on Thomas Ricketts
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ricketts, Thomas 1901 births 1967 deaths Canadian military personnel from Newfoundland and Labrador Canadian military personnel of World War I Newfoundland World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Newfoundland military personnel of World War I Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) People from Newfoundland (island) Bishop Feild School alumni Child soldiers in World War I Royal Newfoundland Regiment soldiers Royal Newfoundland Regiment