He was widely published as a poet in the 1920s, featured in the J. C. Squire anthologies, and became known as a writer of sonnets.
His Be Thou At Peace has been set to music by John Raynor.
Military career
Davison joined the United States Army in 1943, shortly after becoming a Naturalized citizen of the United States. He had previously served as a paymaster in the Royal Navy. During World War II, Davison attained the rank of Lieutenant colonel in the United States Army. He was named director of the Special Projects Division, which was responsible for overseeing the re-education of German prisoners of war. Many of Davidson's poems from this time-frame appear to express doubts about the mission he had been assigned. Davidson had no knowledge of German language, culture, or politics, and so struggled to craft a suitable program.[3]
^ ab'Edward Davison, Poet and Teacher', New York Times, 9 February 1970. [1]
^Cook, Judith, "Priestley, John Boynton (1894–1984)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edition, September 2004. Retrieved 20 May 2018 (subscription required)