Newfoundlanders of World War I - Thomas Ricketts, John Bernard Croak, Chesley William Carter (Paperback)

Chapters: Thomas Ricketts, John Bernard Croak, Chesley William Carter. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 17. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Thomas "Tommy" Ricketts VC (April 15, 1901 February 10, 1967) was a Newfoundlander and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He is the youngest army recipient in a combatant role, the two younger recipients being 15-year-olds 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). The youngest naval recipient is Jack Cornwell, who was 16. Ricketts, who was 17 years old and a private in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment during the First World War, performed the following on October 14, 1918, for which he was awarded the VC: "During the advance from Ledgehem 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. Private Ricketts at once volunteered to go forward with his Section Commander and a Lewis gun to attempt to outflank the battery. They advanced by short rushes while subject to severe fire from enemy machine guns. When 300 yards away, their ammunition gave out. The enemy, seeing an opportunity to get their field guns away, began to bring up their gun teams. Private Ricketts at once realized the situation. He doubled back 100 yards, procured some ammunition and dashed back to the Lewis gun, and by very accurate fire drove the enemy and their gun teams into a farm. His platoon then advanced without casualties, and captured four field guns, four machine guns and eight prisoners. A fift...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=78228