TRAVIS, V.C.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1919, Page 5

TRAVIS, V.C.

HIS IDENTITY SOLVED. THE STORY OF AN ASSUMED NAME. Gisborne, April 10. Considerable interest has been aroused by the case of the late Sergeant Kichard Charles Travis, D.CJM., HII., V.C., a valorous soldier who died before the coveted decoration of the V.C- could be presented 'tq him. It was mentioned recently that the Defence Office had been trying, so far without success, to find some or one of the blood relations of the lave Sergeant Travis, so that the decoration could be presented to the nearest living relative. An elucidation of the problem has now been supplied. Rifleman Clfarles Gordon, who has returned home, states that he has no doubt whatever a 1? to the identity of Sergeant Travis, whom he met and conversed with in France. He states that he was in reality Richard Savage, and that for no reason that was discreditable he elected to go under the name of Travis. Richard Savage formerly worked for Mr. Charles Tiecjen, and was well-known in the Poverty Bay district. Rifleman Gordon knew him well and conversed with him under his name as Travis, and is quite positive as to his identity. His statements are supported by letttera received by another resident from her son, who knew Dick Savage well, and in his letters mentions that he had |adnnt..vl the name of Travis. I Dick Savage, as he was known, was employed bv Mr. Tietjen at Bushmere for about four years, and left there alout six years ago, when he went to the South Island. From then Mr. Tietjen lost all trace of the voung fellow. However, he subsequently received a letter from a boy at the front, who told him he had seen ''Travis," and that his real name was Dick Savage, the same man that formerlv worked at Bush mere. Two of the men who had since returned had informed him I hat this was so Mr. Tietjen wrot'i to Dick Savage's parent* at fiootiki, informing them of this, anl they replied that an Cpotiki boy who had! returned had informed them that he had alos seen 'Travis," and that h n was their son. Mr. Tietjen said he understood the voung fellow had changed his surname because he did not want to let his parents know he had gone to the war.

Those who knew Savage say that he would be just the man to volunteer for the perilous duty that resulted in the V.C- being bestowed on "Travis" —that he was always a quiet, resolute and fearless man, who would set out on a forlorn hope without any thought of the danger to himself. Travis is described by comrades as one nf the bravest of the brnve. The T.ondon Gazette sets forth the record. The V.C. was awarded "for most conspicuous brnverv and devotion to duty." During surprise operations it was necessary to destroy an impassable wire block, Sercrt. Travis volunteered for this duty. He crawled out, cut and destroyed Hie blook with bombs, thus enabling the attackers to pass through. A few minutes later a bombing party on the right of the attack was held up by two machine-guns. Travis rushed the position, killed the crew and eaptivred the guns. An enemy officer and three men immediately jiinhed at him from a bend in the trench and attempted to re-take the guns. These four he killed single-handed, thus allowing the bombing party, on which much depended, to advance. He. was killed *24 &our,s later, when going from gpst to encouraging the own.