Richard Charles Travis

He broke the wire and captured guns to clear a path forward.

Richard Charles Travis was the name adopted by Dickson Cornelius Savage, a New Zealand soldier remembered for bold reconnaissance and his Victoria Cross action at Rossignol Wood. Born at Ōpōtiki on April 6, 1884, the fifth of nine children, he left school after primary standards and worked as a shepherd, drover, farmhand, and horse-breaker. After leaving the Gisborne district, he broke with his family and began using the name Richard Charles Travis. He settled in Southland, where he worked on farms and threshing mills before enlisting in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Invercargill on August 20, 1914.

Travis served first with the Otago Mounted Rifles. Eager for action, he unofficially accompanied his regiment to Gallipoli in May 1915 and was returned to Egypt, where he received 14 days’ detention. He nevertheless took part in the campaign’s closing weeks, conducting scouting patrols between the New Zealand and Turkish trenches. A knee injury preceded his transfer in March 1916 to the 8th (Southland) Company, 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment. On the Western Front, he became known for night patrols, gathering intelligence, recovering wounded men, and locating German defences. His independence and disregard for some routine regulations contrasted with careful planning and resourcefulness in the field.

During the Somme offensive on September 15, 1916, Travis distinguished himself by eliminating German snipers as the Otago battalion advanced. He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, was promoted to sergeant, and took charge of a sniper and observation section whose men became known as “Travis’s Gang.” His later decorations included the Belgian Croix de Guerre and the Military Medal. The Victoria Cross action came on July 24, 1918, at Rossignol Wood, north of Hébuterne, when the 2nd Otago Battalion attacked a German salient. Before the assault, Travis crawled out in daylight near enemy posts and destroyed an impassable wire block with bombs. When two German machine guns stopped a bombing party and threatened the operation, he rushed the positions, killed their crews, and captured the guns. He then fought off an enemy officer and three soldiers attempting to retake them. His actions enabled the attack to continue; he was killed by shellfire the next day while moving between posts and encouraging the men during an intense bombardment.

The Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously for his bravery at Rossignol Wood. Travis was buried at Couin, France. His story is unusual both for the adopted identity under which he served and for the combination of independent scouting, frontline leadership, and conspicuous gallantry described in his decorations.

### Victoria Cross citation

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During ‘surprise’ operations it was necessary to destroy an impassable wire block. Sergeant Travis, regardless of personal danger, volunteered for this duty. Before zero hour, in broad daylight and in close proximity to enemy posts he crawled out and successfully destroyed the block with bombs, thus enabling the attacking parties to pass through.

A few minutes later a bombing party on the right of the attack was held up by two enemy machine guns, and the success of the whole operation was in danger. Perceiving this Sergeant Travis with great gallantry and utter disregard of danger, rushed the position, killed the crews and captured the guns. An enemy officer and three men immediately rushed at him from a bend in the trench and attempted to retake the guns. These four he killed single handed, thus allowing the bombing party on which much depended to advance. The success of the operation was almost entirely due to the heroic work of this gallant non-commissioned officer and the vigour with which he made and used opportunities for inflicting casualties on the enemy. He was killed 24 hours later when, in a most intense bombardment prior to an enemy counter-attack, he was going from post to post encouraging the men.”

### Sources

1. Aaron P. Fox. “Travis, Richard Charles.” Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published 1996. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Biographical account covering his original name, early life, service, decorations, Rossignol Wood action, and death. https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3t40/travis-richard-charles/print 2. Foreign & Commonwealth Office. “WW1 New Zealand VC recipient Richard Charles Travis.” GOV.UK case study, June 20, 2016. Identifies the action, unit, posthumous Victoria Cross, and prints its citation. https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/ww1-new-zealand-vc-recipient-richard-charles-travis 3. Victoria Cross and George Cross Association. “Richard Charles Travis VC.” Recipient profile with service chronology and awards. https://vcgca.org/our-people/profile/738/Richard-Charles-TRAVIS 4. New Zealand Expeditionary Force Personnel Database. “Richard Charles Travis.” Service file and recorded campaign service and decorations. https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=258135