Arthur-Rhys Davids

16 January 2001, 12:40 PM

Does anyone know of any good biographies that have been done on Arthur Rhys-Davids in the last 30 years? Can anyone help? Thank you.

Graeme · 16 January 2001, 12:55 PM

Brief Glory by Alex Revell springs to mind. Take a look under the Books button to the left.

Graeme

Ginger. · 16 January 2001, 10:54 PM

'Brief Glory'tells of Arthur's life from child hood.It has a good selection of photos and contains all the letters he wrote home.Though long out of print it is easy to get hold of.

Ginger. · 17 January 2001, 01:51 PM

The Dedication in 'Brief Glory'says it all.
...if one was ever over the Salient in the autumn of 1917 and saw an SE5 fighting like Hell amidst a heap of Huns,one would find nine times out of ten that the SE was flown by Rhys Davids.

James McCudden V.C.
Lest We Forget.

21 January 2001, 04:27 PM

Sorry that this is more than 30 years old, but have you tried "Sagitarius Rising" by

Cecil Lewis?
It seems that Lewis and Rhys-Davids were great pals... it also gives you the "straight dope" on

Albert Ball-- you know, that nonsense on him being a "whirling dervish" (recounted in the Red Baron 2 and Red Baron 3D simulation games). If you read Lewis' account, you can appreciate just where and how a myth can start... BTW, it was Lewis who saw Rhys-Davids finish off Voss, as Rhys-Davids didn't actually see the result of his shooting-- read the account, it's all there!

Ginger. · 22 January 2001, 03:17 AM

My reply to 'Challenge to Ginger'further down these pages is the tribute paid to Arthur by

Cecil Lewis.

alex_revell · 23 January 2001, 08:05 AM

Cecil Lewis was long gone home by September 1917 when RD shot down Voss
Alex

23 January 2001, 11:44 AM

Dear Alex,

Cecil Lewis claims he was there and that he witnessed the coup de grace by Davids (he also says he saw Ball flying into the clouds when last seen); then again, he could just as well have been strafing a German aerodrome with Bishop. Please read Lewis' book; it's a good read, and I'm sure that you'll enjoy it...

23 January 2001, 12:25 PM

Capt. Lewis, Have you read "High In The Empty Blue"?..It is the definitive work on No. 56 Squadron, RFC. The author's research and knowledge of the subject is phenominal and will be the benchmark for future squadron studies. Oh by the way,...the author is Alex Revell.

Ginger. · 23 January 2001, 11:34 PM

Some old chap called Lewis wrote the introduction!!!