Birth date: 02 Aug 1896
Birth place: Mount Gambier, South Australia
Death date: 13 Nov 1967
Death place: Victor Harbor, South Australia
Occupation: Postmaster
Eric Roy Jarvis
Australian Dictionnary of Biography Volume 9, 1983.
Eric Roy Jarvis (1896-1967), soldier and postmaster, was born on 2 August 1896 at Mount Gambier, South Australia, son of Arthur Jarvis, policeman, and his wife Eliza Jane, née James. He attended Victor Harbor Public School, and at 13 joined the Port Elliot Post Office as a telegram boy. Two years later he was transferred to Adelaide General Post Office as a telegraphist.
In July 1915, after eighteen months in the 75th Battalion cadets, Jarvis enlisted as a private in the 10th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, but his telegraphic skills were soon recognized and in March 1916 he was transferred to the 5th Divisional Signal Company in Egypt. Soon afterwards his unit sailed for France. He was promoted lance corporal in May 1917 and temporary corporal next August. On 4 April 1918, at Hamelet near Corbie, he led a party of linesmen to establish a forward station under fierce shelling. This action earned him the Military Medal and promotion to sergeant. On 8 August, at Villers-Bretonneux, for 'continuously … repairing lines under heavy shell fire' and displaying 'courage', 'cheerfulness' and 'total disregard for danger', he received a Bar to his M.M. He won a second Bar on 29 September, at Bellicourt, when he again established an advanced post under heavy fire and gas-attack. Later, as one of Australia's most decorated soldiers, he was presented to King George V.
Discharged in July 1919, Jarvis returned to the Adelaide Post Office. On 23 August 1920 at the Holden Memorial Methodist Church, Adelaide, he married Alice May Scott. In 1923, and again in 1929, he was posted for three-year terms in Darwin, the second time in charge of the telegraph. During the Depression he operated the repeater station at Cook on the Nullarbor Plain, before becoming postmaster at Orroroo and, in 1940, Port Augusta. In 1942 he was commissioned lieutenant in the Australian Corps of Signals and organized the vital communications link with Darwin for the rest of World War II. After the war he was postmaster at Port Pirie, then from 1950 at Glenelg whence he retired to Victor Harbor in 1961.
Roy Jarvis was a 'livewire', totally involved in all he did. He was active in the returned servicemen's association, the Masonic lodge, golf and bowls clubs, and helped to form the Victor Harbor Progress Association. He was vice-president of the Commonwealth Postmasters' Association and its representative on the P.M.G. appeals board. During World War II, he ran the local recruitment campaigns and comforts fund. Verses by an Orroroo colleague described him as 'always … up and doing', a man 'who can touch the people's hearts' and their 'pockets'. Modest about his achievements, he often told his grandchildren that he won his medals for 'milking cows under shell fire'. However, he did boast the world's longest golf drive: at Cook he drove a ball into a passing railway-truck and it was returned to him from Kalgoorlie, 1100 miles (1770 km) away.
Survived by his wife, son and daughter, Jarvis died at Victor Harbor on 13 November 1967 and was cremated with Anglican rites in Adelaide.
Eric Roy Jarvis
Compiled by the Victor Harbor RSL History Research Team, December 2011.
Eric Roy JARVIS was born on 2 August 1896 at Mount Gambier, South Australia, the third of six children of Arthur Harold JARVIS and Eliza Jane JARVIS (nee JAMES). He attended the Victor Harbor public school, and at age 13, joined the Port Elliot Post Office as a telegram boy and was later transferred to the Adelaide General Post Office as a telegraphist.
In July 1915, Roy, as he was known, after eighteen months in the 75th Battalion cadets, enlisted in the AIF. After initial training Roy was posted to the 11th Reinforcements, 10th Infantry Battalion. He embarked from Outer Harbour on 27 October 1915 on the HMAT A24 Benalla and arrived in Egypt in December. His telegraphic skills were soon recognised and on 14 March 1916 he was transferred to the 5th Divisional Signal Company. On 17 June 1916, the 5th Division sailed from Alexandria for France.
The Signals Company formed part of the Australian Engineers and were responsible for wire and radio communications. One of its main functions was to lay and maintain cables to keep telegraphic contact with different units across the front. The signallers were scattered across the 5th Division and close to the frontline. The Division was the most inexperienced of the Australian divisions in France and was be the first to see major action in the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916, a week after going into the trenches. During the battle the troops suffered heavy losses and were eventually forced to withdraw. The Australian divisions’ casualties totalled 5,533 and it took until October to bring the Division back up to strength.
Sapper JARVIS was promoted to Lance corporal on 1 May 1917 and on 9 August was promoted to corporal. By September 1917, the Division was in Belgium and relieved the 1st Division during the Third Battle of Ypres. On 26 September, the signallers supported the divisional units in the Battle of Polygon Wood. In late March 1918, the Division was rushed back to France and helped repulse the German spring offensive near Amiens. In April, the Australians captured the town of Villers-Bretonneux. It later fought in the Battles of Hamel in July and Amiens in August 1918. In September it crossed the Somme River at Peronne and fought on to the Hindenburg Line.
On 4 April 1918, near Corbie, Cpl JARVIS led a party of linesmen to establish a forward station under fierce shelling. This action earned him the Military Medal and promotion to sergeant. On 8 August 1918, at the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, he again displayed courage by repairing lines whilst subjected to heavy shellfire and was later awarded a Bar to his Military Medal. Sgt JARVIS was later awarded a second bar to his Military Medal for his actions on 29 September at Bellicourt, when he established an advanced post under heavy fire and gas-attack. Later, as one of Australia’s most decorated soldiers, he was presented to King George V.
The citation for his award of a Bar to his Military Medal read:
For courage and devotion to duty. This N.C.O. is with No. 4 Section of this Company, attached to 15th Australian Infantry Brigade. During the attack on the VILLERS BRETONNEUX front on the 8th August 1918, he was with the Brigade advanced Signal party and was most untiring in his duty of maintaining communications between Brigade and Battalions. Throughout the advance he was continually out repairing lines under heavy enemy shell fire with a total disregard for danger. On several occasions after returning to Brigade Headquarters from repairing cable, he worked at the telephone switchboard. His courage, devotion to duty, and cheerfulness were a wonderful example and encouragement to the men with whom he was working. It was to a great extent due to his energy that communications were successfully established throughout all phases of the attack.
The citation for his award of the 2nd Bar to his Military Medal read:
For gallantry and devotion to duty. Sergeant JARVIS is an N.C.O. of No. 4 Section of this Company attached to 15th Australian Infantry Brigade. On 29th September 1918 whilst proceeding with a party from Brigade Headquarters near TEMPLEUX-la-GUERARD to establish an advanced Brigade post about 100 yards west of BELLICOURT they came under heavy enemy shell fire directed upon the road between HARGICOURT and BELLICOURT and suffered casualties. he rallied the uninjured men, proceeded to the advanced post and successfully established communication. The line was urgently required and it was chiefly due to the excellent example he set to the men by his coolness, courage and devotion to duty that communication was successfully established.
Sgt JARVIS embarked on the SS Franconia from England on 8 April 1919 and was demobilised on 12 July. He resumed employment with the Postmaster-General’s Department and married Alice SCOTT on 23 August 1920 and there were later two children of the marriage.
The following members of Eric’s family enlisted during the First World War:
His father, Arthur Harold JARVIS, served as 657 Sergeant major A.H. JARVIS, with the ANZAC Police. Older brother Harold Arthur JARVIS, served as 1323 PTE H.A. JARVIS in the 16th Infantry Battalion. Younger brother Reginald Lancelot JARVIS enlisted however he was found medically unfit and was discharged on 23 March 1918.
During the Second World War, Eric enlisted in the army on 20 March 1942 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Corps of Signals. Lt JARVIS MM was responsible for the important communications link with Darwin during World War Two. After the war, he was appointed as the postmaster at Port Pirie, and then at Glenelg, later retiring to Victor Harbor in 1961. Eric Roy JARVIS died at Victor Harbor on 13 November 1967 and was cremated in Adelaide.
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