DE RAVIN, Stanley Melville
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 58th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 6 December 1889 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Melbourne University, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Memorials: | Bendigo St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 26 Apr 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW to left foot sustained at 2nd Krithia. RTA 29 February 1916. | |
| 1 Jul 1915: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, ANZAC / Gallipoli, "Performing various acts of conspicuous gallantry and valuable service from 25 April 1915 to 5 May 1915" | |
| 10 Feb 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, Depot Battalion , RMS Osterley | |
| 2 Jul 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Captain, 58th Infantry Battalion | |
| 13 Jul 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 58th Infantry Battalion | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Major, 58th Infantry Battalion, Polygon Wood | |
| 28 Jan 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Major, 58th Infantry Battalion, Embarked for Australia per HMT Dunluce Castle after dislocating his right knee in training. | |
| 24 Apr 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Major, 58th Infantry Battalion, Appointment terminated. |
Help us honour Stanley Melville De Ravin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Larna Malone
Stanley Melville De Ravin was born in Bendigo, the son of John Adolphus & Helen Jane De Ravin, of “Sandhurst”, Boundary Street, Bendigo. He was 24 years & 8 months old and employed as a Clerk in the Royal Bank. His previous military service included Junior & Senior Cadets, 3 years in 8th AIR, and 2 years in 67th Infantry Regiment. He had been Appointed Lieutenant in 67th Inf Regt on 23/12/12.
On August 14, 1914, Colonel H. E. Elliott (who had been appointed to command the 7th Battalion Expeditionary Force) was charged with the task of raising a battalion to be drawn from the existing 17th (Territorial) Brigade Area. Elliott immediately asked for a list of recommended officers to be forwarded from each local unit. The name of Lieutenant Stanley Melville De Ravin was included in this list. Approved by Elliott, De Ravin applied for a commission in the AIEF. He arrived at Broadmeadows Camp on 21/8/14 and was Appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion, as Lieutenant.
Prior to Embarkation Stanley Melville De Ravin was Entertained at dinner by the Manager of the Royal Bank; Presented with a set of gold-mounted pipes and a tobacco pouch from the Bendigo Lawn Tennis Club; and Entertained by the officers of the 67th Infantry and presented with a memento.
The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’. Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids. (6/12/14)
In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized. In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company. This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company. Each Company consisted of four platoons. The new ‘D’ Company contained platoons 13, 14, 15 & 16. Lieut. De Ravin was appointed as Senior platoon commander.
The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915. De Ravin had a fortunate escape when going ashore.
“I had a bit of luck stopping one over the heart. My life was saved by my cigarette case, which I am keeping as a trophy. A bullet has passed right through it. I also bear a mark on my field glasses, but I cannot remember getting that hit.” [De Ravin Letter: Bendigo Advertiser June 23, 1915]
Writing of the events on April 26, he said: “I was in the thick of it for two hours. I saw the man next me severely wounded, and the two next him were killed, whilst on the other side Captain Weddell got one through his hat. I was untouched.” [op cit]
He was Promoted to the rank of Captain the same day. (26/4/15)
Lt. Col. R. Gartside, 8th Battalion, submitted the names of two men of the 7th Battalion as “worthy of being mentioned in Despatches.” One of these names was that of Lieut. S. M. De Ravin, who “led a bayonet charge on Sunday under heavy fire and on Monday 26th displayed great gallantry in leading his men under heavy fire.” [2nd Brigade War Diary. AWM 4 23/2]
The recommendation was approved.
“The Army Corps Commander has very much pleasure in publishing Captain De Ravin’s name which has been brought to his notice for having performed various acts of conspicuous gallantry and valuable service from 25/4/15 – 5/5/15. He cordially thanks Captain De Ravin for the good work performed which more than ever testifies to his devotion to duty towards King and country.” [ NAA B2455 DE RAVIN SM (BC3502003)
In May, Lieut.-General Sir W.R. Birdwood, in command of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, was asked to provide part of the Australian force to assist in a British offensive at Cape Helles. The 2nd Australian Brigade, which included the 7th Battalion, was one of two brigades provided. The 7th Battalion left Anzac and disembarked at ‘V’ Beach, Cape Helles, on May 6th. The battalion moved forward on May 8th in what was later known as the “2nd Battle of Krithia” (8-11 May). This battle achieved minimal gain and casualties were extremely high.
De Ravin: “Then they opened on us with rapid rifle fire, and it did rain some. However, nothing was to stop us. All we had to say was, ‘come on, boys’, and it was fine to see them all following . . . . How many of us got across through that hail of bullets is wonderful I reckon.” [Letter: Bendigo Advertiser June 23, 1915]
He was Wounded shortly after they began to dig in. “Well, this is where I was hit – lying in the firing line. I lay there till dark, when one of my chaps dressed my foot, and with the aid of a couple more fellows I got back to the dressing station.” [op cit]
De Ravin was Wounded on 8/5/15. A Bullet had pierced the big toe of his left foot. He RTA M.U. on 19/1/16.
On 10/2/17 he Re-Embarked for duty and went on to serve on the Western Front. He joined the 58th Battalion in France on 2/7/17, and was Promoted Major almost immediately (13/7/17). Later in the year he Dislocated his right knee and RTA on 24/1/18 for ‘Change’. He was given authority to Retain the Hon. Rank of Major.
“The First Lot. 7th Battalion. The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone
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