RAVELL, David
| Service Number: | 16 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914, An original of Headquarters |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 16th to 27th Reinforcements (NSW) |
| Born: | Balmain, New South Wales, Australia, 15 November 1885 |
| Home Town: | Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Painter |
| Died: | 1966, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 16, 3rd Infantry Battalion, An original of Headquarters | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Driver, 16, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Driver, 16, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 4 Sep 1918: | Involvement 16, 16th to 27th Reinforcements (NSW), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Bakara embarkation_ship_number: A41 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Sep 1918: | Embarked 16, 16th to 27th Reinforcements (NSW), HMAT Bakara, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
David Ravell was an original member of the 3rd Battalion AIF and served at the Anzac Landing. He got off to a bad start, as he was sentenced to 18 months in prison with hard labour for an incident on Gallipoli 23 July 1915. He was charged for disobeying the command of a superior officer. Someone reviewed the case and his sentence was shortened, and he arrived back on Gallipoli during September 1915.
He had an excellent record as a soldier from then on, being promoted to Corporal and Sergeant during the Pozieres fighting, and being awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field during October 1916. During a raid by about 50 men of the 3rd Battalion he was in charge of a party detailed to clear a track for the raiders. His courage assisted greatly in the success of the operation and was the last man back from the raid. He promptly volunteered to go back out and look for a missing man.
He was also promoted to Company Sergeant Major during April 1917, the rank of a very distinguished NCO. During 1918 he was sent back to Australia as a part of the Staff on a ship, and returned again to Europe during late 1918. He returned to Australia in mid-1919.
His foster brother, Private Michael Noble Smith, who was an adopted child raised by the Ravell family from birth, was killed in action at Fromelles during 1916.
Another brother, 3211 Pte. Stanley Edgar Stephen Ravell, 19th Battalion AIF, died of wounds in Belgium on 29 October 1917, age 28.