“I am returning home immediately,” explained the fresh- faced, fair-haired young soldier modestly, “so it was arranged that the King should give me the Cross privately, so that I should not have to wait for a full investiture.
   Everything was done so nicely and considerately for me that, though I felt naturally very nervous, it was one of the most pleasant experiences of my life.
   There was a car waiting for me at Wolverton Station, with an equerry to explain the etiquette and everything to me.
   At York Cottage I was given a splendid lunch, which I enjoyed as well as my nervous state would let me. I had this in a room by myself, which was better than meeting a lot of strangers. After lunch I was taken into a kind of ante-room, where the Investiture was to take place. Princess Mary and Prince George were there, as well as the King.
   I was interested to see that the King was not in khaki. He wore ‘civvies’. His kind manner soon put me at ease, and he talked to me for about ten minutes, and I hope I made sensible replies to his questions.
   When he had given me the cross he turned to Princess Mary and the rest and said:‘This is the youngest V.C. in the Army’.” There was a dramatic incident when Private Ricketts was being escorted from the royal presence. The youngest V.C. came face to face with the oldest (save one)-the fine old veteran, Sir Dighton Probyn, who is eighty-five. Sir Dighton gained his cross sixty years ago in the dark and bloody days of the Indian Mutiny.
    Private Ricketts intends to go to college when he reaches home, to resume the education which was broken off when he joined the army. " 

Sgt Thomas Ricketts
[could be in White Bay or on a Recruiting drive elsewhere in Newfoundland]
Donated by Paul Harmon

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