Arthur Rhys-Davids

Who was Arthur Rhys-Davids?

Arthur Percival Foley Rhys-Davids DSO, MC & Bar was a British flying ace during the First World War.

Rhys-Davids was born in 1897 to an affluent family. His father was a professional academic and his mother a prolific author which afforded the young Rhys-Davids thorough schooling. He showed considerable potential in all subjects and was an excellent student. At the age of 14 Rhys-Davids attended Eton College. He gained his School Certificate in July 1913 with higher marks than any other student. In 1914 war had broken out and in mid-1916 Rhys-Davids applied for a commission in the Royal Flying Corps. On 28 August 1916 he reported for training. Rhys-Davids completed his training in the spring, 1917 and was assigned to No. 56 Squadron RFC on 7 March 1917.

Rhys-Davids gained his first victory on 23 May 1917 and began a steady run of success. Only two days later he gained his fifth air victory and became an ace. It was during the Third Battle of Ypres that Rhys-Davids scored the majority of his successes, gaining 22 more victories by the time of his death. On 23 September Rhys-Davids shot down two German aces in the same fight; Carl Menckhoff and Werner Voss. Voss was killed in the battle. By 11 October 1917 Rhys-Davids had shot down five more enemy aircraft for an official total of 27 aerial victories—23 of them individual kills.