Gav,
Just to back-up Mike's suggestion of contacting Brad King
His book mentions Squadron Commander Richard Bell-Davies as being i/c the ground crew for their journey by the steamer 'Inkosi' from Plymouth out to the Aegean. And that by early June '15 over work was taking its toll on the RNAS flyers; Samson had clocked-up 180 hours since 1 April and Bell-Davies was down to 9 stone in weight.
King also gives a description of the rescue of Smylie on 19 Nov '15
"On the return flight Flight Lieutenant Gilbert F. Smylie was hit and forced to land about a mile from the station they had just attacked [Ferejik]. If caught, his chances were slim, but luckily he was seen to land by Bell-Davies in his tiny Nieuport. Circling, he spotted a good place to land and squeezed the 6 foot Smylie "in some mysterious way" into the cockpit. They took off in true 'Boy's Own' fashion with bullets whizzing around them.
After he had landed, Samson said to Arthur Beeton "......I passed Davies on the way back, I simply shot past him, I wonder whether his engine is [alright]." "I don't know Sir." "It's funny" he said "They're the same type of machine, they should keep together really." Well, half a hour later Davies comes in. I asked "Your engine alright Sir?" "Yes, perfect." Then he said "Cramped are you?" "I beg your pardon Sir?" It turned out he was talking to Lieutenant Smylie, who he'd rammed down under his feet in the cockpit. It took about two hours to get him out."
Finally he has this pic of Bell-Davies
Regards
Michael D.R.
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