Field artillery - Royal Flying Corps

[Pietoe71]

Doïng a bit of research on a crashed plane in our village I came across following information in The London Gazette:

8050 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 26 JUNE, 1919.

SUPPLEMENTARY TO REGULAR UNITS OR CORPS.

ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. ,

The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to .be

Lts.: —

H. R. Hart-Davies. 8th Apr. 1918.

6430 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 9 JUNE, 1920.

SUPPLEMENTARY TO REGULAR UNITS OR CORPS.

ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.

Lt. H. R. Hart-Davies is placed on the

ret. list on account of ill-health caused by

wounds. 10th June 1920'.

Is it possible that this same H.R. (Hugh Roland?) Hart-Davies, from the Royal Field Artillery, functioned as an observer-gunner with 48 Sdn RFC in august 1917 (and taken POW after crashing in our village)? If it is, he promoted from 2nd Lt. to Lt. during his prisonership?

I'm totally new in these things, any help welcome!

Thnx,

Peter

[Starlight]

Hi,

Looking at the National Archives database I only found one H R Davies in the Royal Flying Corps. It mentioned that he was first a bombadier in the Royal Field Artillery, then promoted to 2nd lieutenant before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps, also as 2nd lieutenant. This would suggest that he is the same man that you found gazetted as being promoted to lieutenant.

In looking at Henshaw's "The Sky Their Battlefield" the entry for when 2nd lieutenant Davies was shot down and captured states that he was the pilot in an RE8 A78 (34 squadron) with Lt J R Samuel as his observer. Whilst providing an escort for a photographic patrol at 9:20am on 14th April 1917, they were shot down and captured. A claim was made by Ltn K Schaeffer of JA11 that day for an RE8 (La Coulotte, west of Avion), which might have been Davies' aircraft.

Regards

Steve

[Dolphin]

Peter and Steve

This might be a little less clear cut that it first looks. A78, flown by Lt H R Davies, with Lt J R Samuel as observer) left Foucaucourt aerodrome on its escort mission at 0920 and Ltn Schäffer claimed his BE/Bristol Fighter/RE 8 (it varies between sources) over La Coulette at 1720 German time, which I think is 1620 British time. In Bloody April . . . Black September, Franks, Guest and Bailey opine that A78 may have fallen victim to anti-aircraft fire from Flakzug 50. However, whoever was responsible for A78's demise, I don't think that Lt H R Davies is your man.

Lt H R Hart-Davies was the observer in Bristol F2B A7171 of No 48 Sqn, flown by 2Lt Richard Dutton, which was shot down near Ostende after combat with two enemy aircraft on 19 August 1917. 2Lt Dutton was killed, and Lt Hart-Davies was wounded and taken Prisoner of War. A victory was credited to Ltn d R Walter Brachwitz of Jasta 17, it was the first of his two victories before he died on wounds on 23 December 1917. I should note that Airmen Died says that 2Lt Dutton was an observer.

The name Hart-Davies has appeared in the Forum before; the RFC officer concerned was the brother of the man you're interested in:

 

 

I hope that this helps

Gareth