48 Facts About Arthur Rhys-Davids

Arthur Rhys-Davids's father was a professional academic and his mother a prolific author, which afforded the young Rhys-Davids thorough schooling.

Arthur Rhys-Davids 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.

Arthur Rhys-Davids gained his School Certificate in July 1913 with higher marks than any other student.

In 1914 war had broken out and in mid-1916 Arthur Rhys-Davids applied for a commission in the Royal Flying Corps.

Arthur Rhys-Davids completed his training in the spring of 1917 and was assigned to No 56 Squadron RFC on 7 March 1917.

Arthur Rhys-Davids gained his first victory on 23 May 1917 and began a steady run of success.

Arthur Rhys-Davids had earned a reputation as a "fighter", and pursued enemy aircraft wherever and whenever he spotted them.

Arthur Rhys-Davids's father was of Anglo-Welsh descent and his mother was English.

Thomas Arthur Rhys-Davids was born in 1843 the son of a Congregational minister.

Arthur Rhys-Davids' great-grandfather was Vice Admiral William Lukin who had assumed the name Windham in 1824 upon inheriting Felbrigg Hall.

Arthur Rhys-Davids was awarded a master's degree in 1889 and was elected a fellow in 1896.

Unlike most parents of the Victorian era, the parents of Arthur Rhys-Davids spent a great deal of their time with their children, although they employed a child minder named Minna, a German woman.

At the age of three Arthur Rhys-Davids started kindergarten at the Manor Mount High School For Girls in Forest Hill.

Arthur Rhys-Davids stayed there until September 1910, when he completed the Scholarship examinations for Eton College.

In July 1913 Arthur Rhys-Davids won his Division or Class, beating his nearest rival by 53 marks.

On 7 April 1916 it was announced that Arthur Rhys-Davids had won the Newcastle Scholarship.

At this point, Arthur Rhys-Davids gave the first indication he was interested in becoming a pilot and joining the Royal Flying Corps.

On 28 August 1916 Arthur Rhys-Davids reported to No 2 School of Aeronautics at Oxford and billeted in Exeter College, Oxford.

Arthur Rhys-Davids began flight training but did not enjoy life in the British Army and complained about the "coarse and uneducated company".

Arthur Rhys-Davids's time did not last long at Exeter, for he was transferred to the Central Flying School at Upavon Aerodrome for further training.

One of his instructors there was Keith Muspratt, who was the same age as Arthur Rhys-Davids and had been educated at Selborne College in East London, South Africa.

Arthur Rhys-Davids had taken his Royal Aero Club certificate in his last year of school; a talented pilot, the RFC recognised his ability and commissioned him as an instructor.

Arthur Rhys-Davids completed basic training by flying three hours solo at Netheravon.

Arthur Rhys-Davids hoped to gain his flight certificates by Christmas 1916, but that involved 25 hours solo flying, night landings, cross country, artillery observations, bomb dropping and aerial photography.

Arthur Rhys-Davids misjudged a landing and totally wrecked his SE5 A4847 when it overturned on landing and broke its fuselage in two.

Arthur Rhys-Davids's flight kept just below the cloud to avoid attack, and headed towards Cambrai.

Arthur Rhys-Davids was unaware he was under attack until he saw Wolff's tracers pass his aircraft.

Arthur Rhys-Davids evaded Wolff's initial attack and a duel for position followed.

Arthur Rhys-Davids's guns jammed but he managed to get up to Wolff's height and took evasive action.

Arthur Rhys-Davids kept cool and continued turning, denying the German an easy shot.

Arthur Rhys-Davids headed for British lines, his engine streaming water; west of Arras his engine finally seized up.

Arthur Rhys-Davids attempted to glide to Belle Vue but had insufficient height and force-landed near La Herliere.

The second to fifth victories were against enemy observer aircraft; Arthur Rhys-Davids repeated the tactics of diving and eliminating the gunner before bringing down the aircraft.

Arthur Rhys-Davids followed this success with victories against Albatros' on 13,17 and 21 July 1917.

McCudden and Arthur Rhys-Davids attacked from the left and right and soon the German was in the midst of six British machines.

Arthur Rhys-Davids fired on and hit McCudden in the wing, and forced Muspratt and Cronyn out of the battle with hits to their engines.

Arthur Rhys-Davids turned with the Englishman and brought his machine back into Rhys-Davids' path.

Arthur Rhys-Davids fired an entire drum of ammunition at the German and broke off to avoid a collision.

Climbing, Arthur Rhys-Davids saw the German machine, its engine off, heading west.

Arthur Rhys-Davids made several more attacks with the Fokker going down in a shallow right-hand turn.

Arthur Rhys-Davids's flying was wonderful, his courage magnificent, and in my opinion he was the bravest German airman whom it has been my privilege to see fight.

Arthur Rhys-Davids came in for a shower of congratulations from the Squadron upon learning the identity of his victory.

Arthur Rhys-Davids was less sanguine; he lamented to McCudden; "if only I could have brought him down alive".

Arthur Rhys-Davids is a magnificent fighter, never failing to locate enemy aircraft and invariably attacking regardless of the numbers against him.

Arthur Rhys-Davids's fighting spirit won admiration from his commanding officer James McCudden:.

On 27 October 1917 Arthur Rhys-Davids was promoted to lieutenant, backdated to 1 September 1917.

Arthur Rhys-Davids has no known grave, but his name is engraved on the Air Services Memorial at Arras, France.