Hero’s medals on show
DEBBIE Wyatt cast her eyes over Dick Travis’ war medals and promised the decorated soldier’s story will forever be told.
It was a poignant moment. Yesterday marked 100 years to the day Dick Travis died in France during World War 1.
His judgement of what the enemy would do under certain circumstances was said to ‘‘sometimes be more than human’’.
His bravery at war earned him many medals, including the Victoria Cross. He was one of 21 New Zealanders to win the highest British award for bravery.
Ms Wyatt’s greatgreataunt, Lettie Murray, was engaged to Mr Travis when he went to war.
Mr Travis had worked breaking in horses on Tom Murray, Lettie’s father’s, Ryal Bush farm in Southland.
Lettie was given the war medals as his next of kin.
Her family have since handed the medals to the Southland Museum and Art Gallery staff to take care of.
Given their value, the exact home of the medals at the moment was not disclosed.
But to mark the 100th anniversary yesterday, Ms Wyatt and other family members were given an exclusive opportunity to look at the medals at the Invercargill Public Library.
‘‘We feel like we are the gatekeepers, to make sure [the medals] are safe and his story is told.
‘‘Because he is such a fantastic person, he gave his life for New Zealanders and we are very proud as a family of that,’’ she said.
Mr Travis was born Dickson Cornelius Savage in Opotiki, before he changed his name and moved to Southland.
Ms Wyatt said, over the years, there had been some debate as to where his war medals should be kept, given his strong connection to the North Island.
However she was adamant Southland was the right place for them.
‘‘We want to make sure they stay here in Invercargill. He is a Southland boy, even though he wasn’t bred here. He made his life here, he decided he was going to live here in Ryal Bush and to have a family. That was his dream.’’
Ms Wyatt also has letters Mr Travis sent home from the war which she now planned to present to Southland Museum and Art Gallery.
❛ We feel like we are the gatekeepers, to make sure [the medals] are safe and his story is told