Travis V.C. (Man in No Mans Land)

Gasson, James

Richard Charles Travis VC DCM MM was posthumously decorated with the V.C.,

Prior to serving in the military Travis worked as a farm hand & horse breaker & was known as being a bit of trouble maker to the extent that he led a rather transient existence after leaving home at the age of 21. During the war he served briefly at Gallipoli before being sent to France where he fought on the Western Front, earning a reputation as scout & sniper.He was killed by shellfire a day after performing the deed that led to him being awarded the V.C.

The citation for Travis' Victoria Cross in the Supplement to the London Gazette on 27 September 1918 reads:

For most conspicuous bravery & devotion to duty.

During 'surprise' operations it was necessary to destroy an impassable wire block. Serjt. Travis regardless of personal danger, volunteered for this duty.Before zero hour, in broad daylight & 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 2 enemy machine guns, & the success of the whole operation was in danger. Perceiving this Serjt. Travis with great gallantry & utter disregard of danger, rushed the position,killed the crews & captured the guns.An enemy officer & 3 men immediately rushed at him from a bend in the trench & attempted to retake the guns.These 4 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 N.C.O. & 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

128 p b/w photos hardback with covered jacket A.H. & A.W. Reed (1966)

good condition