Ernest Raymond Davey (1921-1944). Courtesy Veterans Affairs Canada.
Ernest Raymond Davey (November 25, 1921 - October 2, 1944) was a Canadian airman who is believed to have authored the poem, "Extinction (The Airman's Prayer)."[1]
Life[]
Courtesy Veterans Affairs Canada.
E.R. "Bus" Davey was born and grew up in London, Ontario, the son of Selin and George James Davey.[2]
He attended Beal technical school, and after graduatimg worked for Lawson & Jones, a London printing company.[3]
In 1943, as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), he was posted to the Royal Air Force Banff Strike Wing (Scotland). He died in October 1944 as a result of a mid-air collision.[1] He is buried in Banff Cemetery, Banffshire.[4]
"Extinction"[]
A copy of "Extinction (The Airman's Prayer)" was afterwards found in Davey's personal effects.[1] His sister Iris has said that he gave her a letter for her mother, which contained the poem in his handwriting, on his last visit home.[3]
The poem was published in Wings Abroad, the RCAF's overseas newspaper. Its editor wrote at the time "that a thorough check had disclosed no previous authorship".[3]
Recognition[]
A memorial stone, which includes the complete text of "Extinction," was placed in Førdefjord, Norway, in June 2008 to commemorate the losses of February 9, 1945.[1]
See also[]
References[]
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Notes on Life and Works," Davey, Ernest Raymond (1921-1944), Representative Poetry Online, University of Toronto, UToronto.ca, Web, Nov. 19, 2011.
- ↑ Ernest Raymond Davey, Canadian War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada. Web, June 22, 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Peter Piggott, "'Bus' Davey: The airman's prayer" in Flying Canucks II: Pioneers of Canadian aviation. Toronto: Dundurn, 2002, p.35. Google Books, Web, June 27, 2014.
- ↑ Banff Cemetery (Banffshire), Canada at War, WWII.ca, Web, Nov. 19, 2011.
External links[]
- Poems
- Davey, Ernest Raymond (1921-1944) ("Extinction") at Representative Poetry Online.
- About
- Ernest Raymond Davey memorial page at Canada at War.
- Ernest Raymond Davey at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial
- "Bus" Davey in Flying Canucks II: Pioneers of Canadian aviation
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