Richard Travis

Richard Charles Travis was a highly decorated New Zealand soldier who served during the First World War. Known for his exceptional bravery and scouting abilities on the Western Front, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest Commonwealth military decoration for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

Initially serving in the Otago Mounted Rifles, Travis later transferred to the infantry where he became famous for his daring nighttime raids and reconnaissance patrols. His remarkable actions in the field earned him several other high honors, including the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal, making him one of New Zealand's most decorated soldiers of the war.

Travis was killed in action on July 25, 1918, in France, just one day after performing the heroic deeds that earned him the Victoria Cross. Following his death, his medals were the subject of a brief family dispute but were eventually preserved and donated to the Southland Museum in Invercargill, where his legacy is honored.