Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of A DAVIES, 64 Chertsey Avenue, Bankstown, New South Wales.

Arthur Davies, a veteran of the Second World War. Arthur was born in Bankstown, New South Wales, 100 years ago.

Before his war service, Arthur worked in the NSW public service as a junior clerk in the Chief Secretary’s Department. In October 1942, he joined the Air Training Corps (Air Force Cadets). In July 1943, he applied to join the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as air crew and enlisted in September and after his initial training at Bradfield Park, NSW, where he was selected to train as a navigator.

In January 1944, Arthur began his navigation training at No. 1 Air Observers School at Evans Head in northern NSW, where he was awarded his navigator’s badge in June. In July, Arthur sailed for the United Kingdom. He was completing his training as a bomber navigator at No. 21 Operational Training Unit, flying in Wellington bombers, when the war in Europe ended. In November 1945, Arthur sailed for home, reaching Melbourne in January 1946.

Arthur was discharged from the RAAF in March 1946. He returned to his pre-war job for a short time, before studying Economics at Sydney University. Arthur is very proud of his academic career as a Professor of Politics. He taught at the University of New England in Armidale NSW, in the United Kingdom and the United States.

In 1959, Arthur married Sheila and they have 2 children. Besides spending time with his family, Arthur is an avid reader and continues to have an interest in politics.

Arthur said that not letting anything stress him is the secret to his long life.