Arthur Rhys-Davids | |
|---|---|
 Lieut. A. P. F. Rhys Davids, DSO, MC painted by William Orpen, October 1917 | |
| Born | 26 September 1897 Forest Hill, London, England |
| Died | 27 October 1917 (aged 20) Roeselare, West Flanders, Belgium |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1916–1917 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 56 Squadron RFC |
| Battles / wars | First World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Military Cross & Bar |
| Relations | Thomas Rhys-Davids (father) Caroline Rhys-Davids (mother) |
Arthur Percival Foley Rhys-Davids, DSO, MC & Bar (26 September 1897 – 27 October 1917) was a British flying ace of the First World War.
Rhys-Davids was born in 1897 to a distinguished 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 joined Eton College as a King's Scholar. 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 of 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 (July–November 1917) 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 the German ace Werner Voss (48 victories), who was killed; and possibly also Carl Menckhoff (39 victories). 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.[1]
Rhys-Davids had earned a reputation as a "fighter", and pursued enemy aircraft wherever and whenever he spotted them. On 27 October 1917 he pursued a group of German aircraft over Roeselare, Belgium. He was never seen or heard from again. Post-war analysis suggests Rhys-Davids may have been shot down by German ace Karl Gallwitz. Despite disappearing less than five miles from the crash site of Werner Voss, shot down by Rhys-Davids one month earlier, his remains have never been found.
- ^ Revell 2010, pp. 121–213.