LORDVice Admiral ASHCROFT'S Richard Bell "HERO Davies OF VC, THE CB, MONTH"DSO, AFC ViceLORD Admiral ASHCROFT'S Richard Bell "HERO Davies OFVC, THE CB, DSO, MONTH" AFC VICTORIA CROSS HEROES Vice Admiral Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is a businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. His five books on gallantry include Victoria Cross Heroes. For more RICHARD BELL information, please visit: www. victoriacrossheroes.com Lord Ashcroft’s VC and GC collection is on public display at Imperial War Museum, London. For more information visit: www.iwm.org.uk/heroes. LORD ASHCROFT'S For details about his VC collection, "HERO OF visit: www.lordashcroftmedals.com DAVIES For more information on Lord Ashcroft’s work, visit: THE MONTH" VC, CB, DSO, AFC www.lordashcroft.com. Follow him on Twitter: @LordAshcroft at Zeebrugge. During this latter low- approach of a party of the enemy, and Davies recalled: “He managed TOP LEFT: level raid, Davies, by now a lieutenant, returned to the aerodrome, a feat of somehow to stow himself away Having rescued was severely wounded when he was hit airmanship that can seldom have been looking most uncomfortable.” Flight Sub- BOLDNESS by a bullet in his thigh. For this raid, equalled for skill and gallantry.” In his log book, Davies recorded the Lieutenant • Smylie in AGGRESSION INITIATIVE too, he was awarded the Distinguished Both men were recommended for the entire accident in ten crisp sentences: the face of Service Order. VC but Smylie’s award was downgraded “Dropped 3 20 lb bombs at Stn at • approaching LEADERSHIP SACRIFICE By the time that his DSO was to the Distinguished Service Cross. Ferejik. Comdr and Smylie in compy. enemy troops, SKILL • ENDURANCE announced, Davies’ powers of recovery Much later, Davies wrote modestly of One bomb burst on line. Returning Squadron- meant that he was stationed on the his exploits: “It never occurred to me saw Smylie’s machine burning in Commander The many Victoria Crosses and George Crosses in the Lord Davies takes Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London are island of Tenedos in preparation for the that [while landing to pick up Smylie] marshes. Landed and picked him up. off during displayed under one of seven different qualities of bravery. Gallipoli campaign. During the campaign we were likely to be interfered with Ground firm and fairly level. Kept what has been Whilst Vice Admiral Richard Bell Davies’ award is not part he once again took part in numerous by enemy troops. The marshes were engine [running]. He got under cowl. described of the collection, Lord Ashcroft feels that it falls within the bombing and reconnaissance missions. In wide and rough with tall banks of reeds Returned, machine running well. Time as the first category of boldness: October 1915, flying a Nieuport Scout on and scrub. What did worry me was 10.5-12.20.” ever combat “In what is apparently the simplest quality of bravery, search and Sacrifice epitomises selfless responsibility. Noble, strong, a bombing mission, his aircraft suffered finding two men to rescue, for I knew In early 1916, and after the Gallipoli rescue mission dependable, life is offered up to protect, save or comfort engine failure, forcing Davies to ditch that some of our military observers campaign had failed, Davies was by aircraft others. It is not always lost, but it is always freely given.” into the sea, where he was rescued by a had been detailed to take part in the appointed to the reformed 3 Wing in history. A passing trawler. operation as bomb aimer … I could only RNAS. In his new role as chief of flying large degree of artistic licence RIGHT: After Bulgaria joined the war, Davies carry one passenger. operations, he flew on a number of ICHARD DAVIES was born has been used Flight Sub- was one of those chosen to take part “As I flew down I could see the raids targeting German industrial areas. in Kensington, west London, in the depiction Lieutenant in raids on newly-chosen Bulgarian Farman [aircraft] burning. I flew On 15 April 1916, he received his of Davies’ Gilbert on 19 May 1886. However, he was orphaned by the age of five targets. The action for which Davies low round it looking for Smylie and VC from George V in an investiture aircraft. Formby Smylie was awarded the VC took place on 19 received an almighty shock when the at Buckingham Palace. destroying Rafter both his father, William, a civil his aircraft, engineer, and his mother, Mary, November 1915 when he took part in a plane suddenly blew up. I had no idea Davies survived the war and earned as Squadron- died. This double tragedy meant raid on Ferejik Junction, Bulgaria. His there was a bomb still on board and, himself a reputation as an aviation Commander that young Richard was brought up citation, published on 1 January 1916, in case there were any more, I hastily pioneer for his design skills. He carried Davies circles BELOW LEFT: by his uncle (his mother’s brother), stated: “Flight Sub-Lieutenant Smylie’s climbed away. Then I saw Smylie out several dangerous, experimental nearby, on 19 machine was received by very heavy fire emerge from a little hollow in which flights, being awarded the Air Force Bulgarian Dr Edwin Beale, a throat and chest soldiers November 1915. and brought down. The pilot planed he had been lying and wave.” Cross (AFC) for his courage. When the (ALL IMAGES specialist, and his family. preparing to HISTORIC MILITARY After being educated at Bradfield down over the station, releasing all his Davies made a bumpy landing and RAF was formed in April 1918, Davies fire against PRESS UNLESS College in Reading, West Berkshire, bombs except one, which failed to drop, Smylie scrambled into the aircraft. was appointed lieutenant colonel. an incoming STATED) Davies enlisted in the Royal Navy simultaneously at the station from a very aircraft. Still on 20 April 1901 as a cadet in HMS low altitude. Thence he continued his recuperating from the effects Britannia, based at Dartmouth, Devon. descent into the marsh. of the Balkan ‘On alighting he saw the one Wars, Bulgaria After witnessing a flight by aerial At the time the Naval Flying School unexploded bomb, and set fire to his initially pioneer Claude Grahame-White, at Eastchurch was headed by Acting machine, knowing that the bomb distanced itself Davies became captivated by flying Commander Charles Samson and, would ensure its destruction. He then from both the and later that year took up an offer following the outbreak of the Great Allies and the proceeded towards Turkish territory. Central Powers, made to naval officers to learn to fly. War in early August 1914, Davies ‘At this moment he perceived though it did However, he eventually qualified as a became a member of Samson’s mobile Squadron-Commander Davies negotiate pilot as a result of private lessons with squadron: No.3 Squadron RNAS. descending, and fearing that he would with both, it Grahame-White. After flying to Ostend, Belgium, the come down near the burning machine was not until In 1913, Davies joined the Royal squadron, including Davies, who was and thus risk destruction from the the summer of 1915 that Navy’s fledging air service, quickly by now aged 28, carried out attack and bomb, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Smylie it decided making a favourable impression while reconnaissance missions. ran back and from a short distance to go with training at the Naval Flying School On 20 December 1914, Davies carried exploded the bomb by means of a pistol Germany and at Eastchurch, Kent. By the end of out a solo mission to bomb a suspected bullet. Squadron-Commander Davies Austria, signing RIGHT: the same year, he was serving as a enemy air-shed at Brussels and on descended at a safe distance from an alliance Richard Bell squadron commander in the Royal 23 January he took part in a daring the burning machine, took up Sub- with them in Davies VC. September (IWM; Q69475) Flying Corps, Naval Wing. attack on the German submarine base Lieutenant Smylie, in spite of the near that year. www.britainatwar.com www.britainatwar.com.