Richard Bell Davies
Squadron Commander, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 311 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Squadron Commander all Squadron Commanders →
- Unit
- Royal Navy all Royal Navy VCs →
- London Gazette
- 1st January, 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Born
- 19th May, 1886 at Kensington, London
- Died
- 26th February, 1966 at Haslar, Hampshire
Digest of citation
On 19th November, 1915 while carrying out an air attack at Ferrijik Junction, Bulgaria, one of the planes engaged in the bombing mission was brought down, the pilot making a safe landing. Seeing, however, that Bulgarian troops were approaching, he set fire to his aircraft. He then realised that Squadron Commander Davies was preparing to land to rescue him, so he detonated the last bomb on the burning aircraft, with a pistol shot, in case it should blow up as the rescue plane approached. The squadron commander landed as near as possible to the stranded pilot, picking him up just as the enemy came within rifle range
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DAVIES, Richard Bell (reg No. 311).
Squadron Commander, Royal Navy * London Gazetted on 1st January, 1916.
Born on 19th May, 1886 at Kensington, London.
Died on 26th February, 1966 at Haslar, Hampshire. Remains cremated that Swaythling Crematorium, Hampshire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 19th November, 1915 while carrying out an air attack at Ferrijik Junction, Bulgaria, one of the planes engaged in the bombing mission was brought down, the pilot making a safe landing. Seeing, however, that Bulgarian troops were approaching, he set fire to his aircraft. He then realised that Squadron Commander Davies was preparing to land to rescue him, so he detonated the last bomb on the burning aircraft, with a pistol shot, in case it should blow up as the rescue plane approached. The squadron commander landed as near as possible to the stranded pilot, picking him up just as the enemy came within rifle range.
* No. 3 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service.
Additional information:. Vice-Admiral Davies was created a Companion of (the Order of) the Bath (CB) and also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Air Force Cross (AFC). His foreign decorations included the Croix de Guerre avec Palme and the Légion d'Honneur, both of France. From 1937-41 he was Rear-Admiral, Naval Air Stations. He wrote the book, "Sailor of the Air "
Additional information
Vice-Admiral Davies was created a Companion of (the Order of) the Bath (CB) and also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Air Force Cross (AFC). His foreign decorations included the Croix de Guerre avec Palme and the Légion d'Honneur, both of France. From 1937-41 he was Rear-Admiral, Naval Air Stations. He wrote the book, "Sailor of the Air "
* No. 3 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service.
Remains cremated that Swaythling Crematorium, Hampshire.
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