William Alberto Davies

William Alberto "Billy" Davies (born, Gibraltar, 3rd March 1898 died 1st April 1974)
was a Gibraltarian politician and Trades Unionist.
Early Life
Born 3rd March 1898 "Billy" was the second of five children born to Manolo and Maria Davies. Of mixed Spanish and English descent. Educated by the Christian Brothers Billy exhibited an early interest in matters political and by the First World War was a member of the fledgling Gibraltar Trades Union movement.
Trades Unionism
Whilst not a full blown Communist Billy helped radicalise the workers of the Gibraltar Naval Dockyard campaigning for better pay and conditions and better safety issues .
Into Politics
With the end of the First World War and the return to normality Billy continued to campaign and was for a time blacklisted from the Naval Dockyard. With the advent of World War II Billy was allowed to return to the Naval Dockyard and remained in Gibraltar in a reserved occupation when the bulk of the local residents were evacuated. Billy's then wife Liana was evacuated with their two children, Charlie and Richard, to Madeira where they spent the rest of the War.
On the founding of the Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights Billy joined with Sir Joshua Hassan and Albert Risso in being founder members of the AACR . The AACR campaigned for increased civil rights for the civilian population fo Gibraltar eventually seizing power in the 1945 election and remaining a major political force in Gibraltar until 1998.
Billy was elected to the House of Assembly on three occasions until retiring due to ill health. Billy served from 1958 - 1964 as Minister for Transport
Death
Billy Davies died on 1st April 1974 after suffering a heart attack. He had lived in the Rosia area of Gibraltar all his life.
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See Also
Albert Risso
Sir Joshua Hassan
Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights

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