A FAMOUS V.C.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18581, 15 December 1934, Page 14

A FAMOUS V.C.

MEMORIAL AT OPOTIKI SERGEANT DICK TRAVIS A memorial to Sergeant Dick Travis Savage (widely known as Dick Travis), Y.C.. D.C.M., M.M., Croix de Guerre (Beige), one of the bravest men in the Great War was unveiled at the Opotiki High Scliool yesterday. Sergeant Travis, who was educated at tlie Opotiki School, left New ZfjtPPd with the Main Body. He was JH*d in action in France on July 25, IffLo. He was the son of the late Mr. ,). Savage, of Otara, Opotiki, When quite, a young man, as a result of a family estrangement, he left Opotiki and went to the Gisborne district. He was well known for his daring and was a wonderfnl horseman. After being in the Gisborne, district for some time, he left and went to the South Island, where all trace of him was lost. He was next heard of when in Egypt, where he was met by Corporal El Roe, with whom he had worked in Gisborne. He was then under the name of Dick Travis, and Corporal Roe wrote to his people in Oootiki informing them that he had met Dick Savage again. This advice was passed on to members of the Savage family in Opotiki. Corporal Roe came across Dick Savage again, in France, and it- was,-only' us a -result of ■ these chance meetings that Dick Savage was ever “discovered.” otherwise lus real identity would never have been known. Savage’s parents were never told that bis whereabouts were known, and both died without being aware of his doings. In some ounriers doubts have always been expressed as Hie real identity of Dick Travis, but these facts now published for the first time, should put aside all doubt the* in -reality Dick Travis was Richard Travis Ravage,. ; ,*