JARVIS, Roy William
| Service Numbers: | 984, 1114 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 June 1916, An original of D Company |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 40th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Melton, Mowbray, Tasmania, Australia, 24 June 1892 |
| Home Town: | New Norfolk, Derwent Valley, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 1978, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Jun 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 984, 40th Infantry Battalion, An original of D Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 984, 40th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 984, 40th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Hobart | |
| 14 Mar 1919: | Honoured Military Medal, Military Medal 'At HAMEL WOOD on 17th July, 1918, Private JARVIS was assisting the R.S.M. in superintending delivery of rations. Before the ration limbers reached the ration dump, the enemy put down an intense artillery shoot on the area, thereby causing numerous casualties to the ration party. Private JARVIS who, with the R.S.M. had halted the limbers further up the road immediately volunteered to go to the ration dump and collect the ration parties and guide them to the limbers. This he did, passing through intense artillery fire and collecting all men who were not casualties brought them back to the ration limbers. Afterwards he guided a stretcher party to the spot and carried in several wounded men. Throughout he showed great courage and total disregard for personal danger. His skill and coolness in collecting the ration party under fire undoubtedly saved numerous casualties.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 36 Date: 14 March 1919 | |
| 26 Jul 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1114, 40th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
1114 Private Roy William Jarvis enlisted in June 1916, with the 40th (Tasmanian) Battalion. He arrived in France during late 1916 with the 40th Battalion and was slightly wounded in the foot during the fighting near Ypres during October 1917. He was sent to England to recover and was sent back to France in February 1918. He was awarded a Military Medal for bravery and the recommendation stated, 'At Hamel Wood on 17 July 1918, Private Jarvis was assisting the R.S.M. in superintending delivery of rations. Before the ration limbers reached the ration dump, the enemy put down an intense artillery shoot on the area, thereby causing numerous casualties to the ration party. Private Jarvis who, with the R.S.M. had halted the limbers further up the road immediately volunteered to go to the ration dump and collect the ration parties and guide them to the limbers. This he did, passing through intense artillery fire and collecting all men who were not casualties brought them back to the ration limbers. Afterwards he guided a stretcher party to the spot and carried in several wounded men. Throughout he showed great courage and total disregard for personal danger. His skill and coolness in collecting the ration party under fire undoubtedly saved numerous casualties.'
He survived the war and was working at AIF HQ in London when he was married in Surrey England on the 19 April 1919. He and his new wife returned to Australia during July 1919.
After the war a copy of the battalion history was presented to him by his former 40th Battalion Commanding Officer Lt.Col. John Ernest Cecil Lord CMG, DSO, MID, French Croix De Guerre. Roy’s Military Medal and campaign medals were lost when his house was burnt down during the 1967 Tasmanian bushfires. They were replaced by the Army in 1969, nine years before he passed away in 1978.
His brothers: 161 Pte Richard George Jarvis, 12th Bn, killed in action, 2 May 1915,
1612 Pte Henry Thomas Jarvis, 52nd Bn, killed in action, 4 September 1916;
4524 Pte Alfred Edward Jarvis, 52nd Bn, returned to Australia wounded, 27 August 1917.
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