Richard Travis

Richard Charles Travis
Travis c. 1917 or 1918
Born	(1884-04-06)6 April 1884 Ōpōtiki, New Zealand
Died	25 July 1918(1918-07-25) (aged 34) Rossignol Wood, France
Buried	Couin, France
Allegiance	New Zealand
Service/branch	New Zealand Military Forces
Years of service	1914–1918
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	First World War Gallipoli campaign Landing at Anzac Cove Western Front Battle of the Somme Hundred Days Offensive  †
Awards	Victoria Cross Distinguished Conduct Medal Military Medal Mentioned in Despatches (2)[1] Croix de guerre (Belgium)

Richard Charles Travis, VC, DCM, MM (born Dickson Cornelius Savage; 6 April 1884 – 25 July 1918) was a New Zealand soldier who fought during the First World War and was posthumously decorated with the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to Commonwealth forces.

Born in Ōpōtiki, Travis worked as a farm hand and horse breaker and, as a young man, led a transient existence after leaving home at the age of 21. He volunteered for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force following the outbreak of the First World War and served briefly at Gallipoli. He was later sent to France where he fought in the trenches along the Western Front, earning a reputation as scout and sniper and receiving awards for his gallantry. On 24 July 1918, he carried out a reconnaissance into "no man's land" prior to an attack by his battalion, destroying a wire obstacle that may have slowed progress for the advancing troops. During the attack itself, he made a solo foray to deal with two weapons pits that were delaying the advance. He was killed by shellfire the next day but his exploits of 24 July led to him being awarded the VC posthumously.