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| Name: |
Arthur Percival Foley Rhys Davids |
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| Country: |
England |
| Rank: |
Lieutenant |
| Service: |
Royal Flying Corps |
| Units: |
56 |
| Victories: |
25 |
| Born: |
26 September 1897 |
| Place of Birth: |
Honor Oak Road, London |
| Died: |
27 October 1917 |
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| Place of Death: |
E of Roulers |
| Memorial: |
Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France  |
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Rhys Davids attended Eton and received a scholarship to Oxford.
Fearing he might be shot down and captured, he always carried a book of Blake's poetry into combat. In his
first dogfight on 7 May 1917, his flight commander, Albert Ball, was shot down while
Rhys Davids survived an attack by Kurt Wolff of Jasta 11. On 23 September
1917, during one of the most famous dogfights of the war, he shot down a Fokker Triplane piloted by Werner Voss. When Karl Menckhoff arrived on the scene in an
Albatros Scout and attempted to assist Voss, Rhys Davids shot him down too. The following month, on 27 October 1917, Rhys Davids
was missing in action. He was last seen pursuing an Albatros east of Roulers. It is believed that his S.E.5a was shot down by Karl Gallwitz.
Listed as Arthur Percival Foley Rhys-Davids in the London Gazette. |
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| Military Cross (MC) |
"2nd Lt. Arthur Percival Foley Rhys-Davids, R.F.C., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion. On many occasions he has shot down hostile machines and put others out of action, frequently pursuing to low altitudes. On all occasions his fearlessness and dash have been most marked." |
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| Military Cross (MC) Bar |
"2nd Lt. Arthur Percival Foley Rhys-Davids, M.C., R.F.C., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst on offensive patrols. He has in all destroyed four enemy aircraft, and driven down many others out of control. In all his combats his gallantry and skill have been most marked, and on one occasion he shot down an enemy pilot who had accounted for twenty-nine Allied machines. His offensive spirit and initiative have set a magnificent example to all.
(M.C. gazetted 18th July, 1917.)" |
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| Distinguished Service Order (DSO) |
"2nd/Lt. Arthur Percival Foley Rhys-Davids, M.C., R.F.C., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in bringing down nine enemy aircraft in nine weeks. He is a magnificent fighter, never failing to locate enemy aircraft and invariably attacking regardless of the numbers against him." |
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
23 May 1917 |
1900-2015 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4868) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) |
E of Lens |
| 2 |
24 May 1917 |
1900-2000 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4868) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) 1 |
S of Douai |
| 3 |
24 May 1917 |
1900-2000 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4868) |
C (DESF) 2 |
Gouy sous Bellone |
| 4 |
24 May 1917 |
1900-2000 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4868) |
C (OOC) |
Sains |
| 5 |
25 May 1917 |
0630-0730 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4868) |
C (DES) |
W of Flers |
| 6 |
26 May 1917 |
1900-2000 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4868) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) |
Gouy sous Bellone |
| 7 |
04 Jun 1917 |
0700-0845 |
56 |
S.E.5a (A8901) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
W of Moorslede |
| 8 |
07 Jun 1917 |
0500-0645 |
56 |
S.E.5a (A8901) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) |
Westroosebeke |
| 9 |
12 Jul 1917 |
1400-1500 |
56 |
S.E.5a (A4563) |
Fokker D.V (OOC) |
E of Roncq |
| 10 |
12 Jul 1917 |
1400-1500 |
56 |
S.E.5a (A4563) |
DFW C (799/17) (CAP) |
N of Armentières |
| 11 |
13 Jul 1917 |
1930-2100 |
56 |
S.E.5a (A4563) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Moorslede |
| 12 |
17 Jul 1917 |
1930-2110 |
56 |
S.E.5a (A4563) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) 3 |
Roulers Menin Road |
| 13 |
21 Jul 1917 |
1930-2030 |
56 |
S.E.5a (A4563) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) |
Polygon Wood |
| 14 |
03 Sep 1917 |
1845-1915 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B511) |
Albatros D.V (DES) 4 |
Houthem |
| 15 |
05 Sep 1917 |
1815-1900 |
56 |
S.E.5a (A4563) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
E of Menin |
| 16 |
05 Sep 1917 |
1815-1900 |
56 |
S.E.5a (A4563) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
NE of Poelcapelle |
| 17 |
05 Sep 1917 |
1815-1900 |
56 |
S.E.5a (A4563) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
E of Menin |
| 18 |
09 Sep 1917 |
1740-1845 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B525) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
SE of Houthoulst Forest |
| 19 |
23 Sep 1917 |
abt 1800 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B525) |
Fokker DR.I (CAP) |
NE of Ypres Salient |
| 20 |
23 Sep 1917 |
abt 1800 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B525) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
NE of Ypres |
| 21 |
24 Sep 1917 |
1700-1820 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B525) |
C (DESF) |
S of Houthoulst Forest |
| 22 |
28 Sep 1917 |
0815-0930 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B525) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Comines |
| 23 |
01 Oct 1917 |
1700-1815 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B525) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Westroosebeke |
| 24 |
01 Oct 1917 |
1700-1815 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B525) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) 5 |
Westroosebeke |
| 25 |
11 Oct 1917 |
0730-0815 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B525) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
NE of Becelaere |
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| 1 |
Shared with Capt Cyril Crowe, 2Lt Reginald Hoidge, 2Lt Kenneth Muspratt, 2Lt John Turnbull |
| 2 |
Shared with 2Lt Reginald Hoidge |
| 3 |
Shared with Capt Ian Henderson, 2Lt Leonard Barlow, 2Lt Kenneth Muspratt, Lt V P Cronyn (A4856) |
| 4 |
Shared with Lt Richard Maybery |
| 5 |
Shared with Capt James McCudden, Lt Leonard Barlow, Lt M H Coote (B1), Lt D J Reason (A8961) |
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