William Rees-Davies (Conservative politician)


William Rupert Rees-Davies QC was a British Conservative politician.

Early life

Rees-Davies was the son of Sir William Rees-Davies, Chief Justice of Hong Kong. He was born in Hong Kong while his father was serving as Chief Justice. His grandfather was William Davies, Liberal MP for Pembrokeshire
He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained a cricket blue. He also played for the Kent Second XI. He was a right-arm fast-medium bowler.

Non-political career

He was a barrister, called to the bar by Inner Temple in 1939. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1973. He was commissioned in the Welsh Guards in 1939 and served until 1943 when he lost his right arm on service during World War II. Because he had lost his arm, he was some time referred to as the "one armed bandit".

Political career

Rees-Davies contested Nottingham South in 1950 and 1951. He was Member of Parliament for the Isle of Thanet from a 1953 by-election to 1974, then for Thanet West from 1974 to 1983 when his seat was abolished in boundary changes.