Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Richard Henry Jarvis was born on 25 April, 1890, at Benambra, Victoria. At the time of his birth his father, William (‘Worragee Bill, 1848 to 1927) was 42, and his mother, Caroline Jane, nee Hadley (1849 to 1944), was 41. Richard would have two brothers and five sisters. Their names were Wilhelmina Jane (1871 to 1959), George William (1873 to 1887), Fredrick Davis (1875 to 1922), Sarah Eleanor(1878 to 1964), Hannah Eliza (1880 to 1974), Matilda Emma (1883 to 1977) and Caroline Janette (1886 to 1924).

On the 4 September, 1915, Richard, a single, 25-year-old labourer from Towong, Victoria enlisted in the AIF (Australian Imperial Forces) at Melbourne, Victoria. He was given the service number 1582 and was put on strength with the 12th Reinforcements of the 8th Light Horse.

Upon enlistment, Richard was 5 foot 10 ⅜ inches (178 cm) and weighed 12 stone 10 pounds (81 kg). His complexion was given as tanned, eyes greyish brown and hair dark brown. Richard’s records show that he had the distinctive marks of two vaccinations on left arm, and scars on his left upper leg and right shin. Richard’s religious denomination was given as Church of England. Once again, like many boys from Corryong, Dr. Greenham had conducted his medical examination and signed him off as fit and healthy.

Richard embarked on HMAT A11 Ascanius on the 10 November, 1915, sailing from Melbourne, Victoria. The trip would take him across the Great Australian Bight to Fremantle, on to Colombo, in Ceylon, before finally disembarking at Suez. The 8th was sent to training camps at Heliopolis and spent some time preparing themselves for the type of warfare they would encounter in the desert conditions of Sinai and Palestine.

It wasn’t long before Richard was admitted to the No. 1 Australian Stationary Hospital at Somalis suffering from appendicitis. He would remain in hospital for over a month before he was transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment at Tel-el-Kebir. Recurring bouts of appendicitis would see Richard admitted to hospital two more times before finally being returned to duty with the 8th Light Horse on the 7 September, 1916. Richard’s admission to hospitals would not stop there as, during the time he was in Egypt and Palestine, he would be admitted for tonsillitis and eye problems (amblyopia).

On the 20 June, 1917, Richard was attached for duty with the Anzac Provost (or Military Police) Corp at Moascar. While with this unit he would be promoted initially to Corporal on Christmas Day 1917, and then acting Sergeant three months later.

The second half of 1918 would find Richard on duty with the Egyptian Expeditionary Forces in and around Jerusalem, especially with the 1st, and then the 2nd, Light Horse Brigade Headquarters. The War Diary of the Assistant Provost Marshal, ANZAC Mounted Division provides examples of the types of duties Richard would have performed during this period. The movement and direction of traffic and the control of prisoners as the Allied forces pursued the Turks, was seen as a top priority but we also read of problems with the native hawkers in and around the EEF camps.

On the 27 June, 1919, Richard embarked on the HMAT Madras at Kantara, returning to Australia some weeks later. He was finally discharged from the AIF on the 22 September, 1919. For his service during the war, he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Records indicate that Richard married Irene Edith Mee in 1922 at Albury, New South Wales. It is not known if Richard and Irene had children. Richard passed away in 1971, at Woodend, Victoria, at the age of 81.

Extract from "Light Horsemen of the Upper Murray", Year 5 and 6 Project, Corryong College.