The AIF Project

Richard George JARVIS

Regimental number161
Place of birthLongford, Tasmania
SchoolState School, Tasmania
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressNew Norfolk, Tasmania
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 9"
Weight161.5 lbs
Next of kinFather, Norman Jarvis, New Norfolk, Tasmania
Previous military serviceServed for 2 years in the Derwent 73rd Infantry; resigned on leaving the district.
Enlistment date17 August 1914
Place of enlistmentBrighton, Tasmania
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name12th Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/29/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Hobart, Tasmania, on board Transport A2 Geelong on 20 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll12th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 25 April 1915
Age at death from cemetery records21
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel No 35), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
66
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Thomas David and Afhild W. Jarvis, Don Banks, New Norfolk, Tasmania
Family/military connectionsBrothers: 1612 Pte Henry Thomas JARVIS, 52nd Bn, killed in action, 4 September 1916; 984 Pte Roy William JARVIS MM, Australian Infantry Base Depot, returned to Australia, 26 July 1919; 4524 Pte Alfred Edward JARVIS, 52nd Bn, returned to Australia, 27 August 1917; Cousin: 79 Pte Tasman JARVIS, 12th Bn, killed in action, 25 April 1915; 1612 Pte Henry Thomas JARVIS, 52nd Bn, killed in action, 4 September 1916; 984 Pte Roy William JARVIS MM, Australian Infantry Base Depot, returned to Australia, 26 July 1919; 4524 Pte Alfred Edward JARVIS, 52nd Bn, returned to Australia, 27 August 1917.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 2 March 1915.

Reported missing, 25-28 April 1915.

Court of Enquiry, 5 June 1916, declared fate to be 'Killed in Action, 25 April 1915'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 14303071, 630 Pte R.J. KILLALEA, A Company, 12th Bn (patient, St David's Hospital, Malta), 3 December 1915: 'Witness who was in A Coy only know[s] one man of the name of Jarvis, and he was on the Peninsula long after the 25th April, as late as June at the earliest.'

Second statement, 1556 Pte J. PECK, B Company, 12th Bn (patient, 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis), 9 February 1916: 'Witness knows a Pte Jarvis in his coy but does not know his number or ititials. This man is described as a short, thick set man, dark, who came from Tasmania. Witness was on the peninsula from 12.5.15 to 25.11.15, and last saw Jarvis about 1.7.15: he was then in the trenches.'

Third statement, 1243 Pte C.P.SKINNER, A Company, 52nd Bn (formerly 12th Bn), 23 March 1916: 'Jarvis was killed about three days after the landing. Witness saw him killed by shrapnel. He was badly smashed, apparently hit all over his body. He died immediately. This occurred just above the landing point. Witness knew nothing further, as to burial, etc.'

Fourth statement, 86, Pte S. PACKER, A Company, 12th Bn (patient, 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 26 July 1916: 'Jarvis was one of a party of twenty, holding a trench at Anzac Cove, and trying to take a machine gun in front of them. Jarvis got three bullets in the thigh. Iformant saw this. The party was subsequently driven back and Jarvis was not seen again. The engagement took place on 25th April, 1915.'

Fifth statement, 548 Pte G.A. McKENZIE, HQ Stretcher Bearer (26th General hospital, Etaples), 27 July 1916: 'I saw Roy Jarvis killed by a shell at what was afterwards Shrapnel Gully on Sunday April 25th at about 10 p.m. I put his body in a hole which served as a dug-out. He was fearfully smashed up by the shell. I knew him well. He came from Hobart. His age was about 23 or 24 years.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, JARVIS Richard George
Red Cross File No 14303071

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