TRAVIS, RICHARD CHARLES (1886-1918), son of James Savage, a constable, was born in Opotiki and christened Dickson Cornelius Savage. From an early age he was employed as horsebreaker, drover, shepherd and general farm labourer. When war broke out in 1914, Savage, who was working in Southland, joined the Otago Mounted Rifles under the assumed name by which he is generally known, and recorded his birthplace as Seattle, America. He served with distinction in Egypt and Gallipoli, and with the Otago Infantry regiment in France, where he achieved a remarkable reputation as a scout. He was awarded the M.M. (1916), the Belgian Croix de Guerre, the D.C.M., and (on 24 Jul 1918) the V.C. for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in destroying an impassable wire block in broad daylight near an enemy post. He was killed in action the following day (25 Jul 1918) at Rossignol wood.

Byrne, Official History of the Otago Regiment in the Great War (p); London Gaz., 27 Sep 1918; N.Z. Railways Magazine, 1 Dec 1933 (p); New Zealander (London), 11 Oct 1918.

Reference: Volume 2, page 200

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