Neil Davis (cameraman)
| Neil Davis | |
|---|---|
| Born |
14 February 1934 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| Died | 9 September 1985 (aged 51) Bangkok, Thailand |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Cameraman and photojournalist |
| Years active | 1961–1985 |
| Spouse(s) | Chou Ping (Julie) Yen (m. 1977) |
Neil Brian Davis (14 February 1934 – 9 September 1985) was an Australian combat cameraman who was recognised for his work as a photojournalist during the Vietnam War and other conflicts in the region. He was killed in Bangkok on 9 September 1985, while filming a minor Thai coup attempt.
Davis was born in Hobart, Tasmania and raised on farms in Nala and Sorell, attending Sorrell High School and later Hobart High. He quit school at age 15 to work in the Tasmanian Government Film Unit. He joined the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) in 1961 as a cine-cameraman, but he left in December 1963 to accept an offer to become Visnews's cameraman and correspondent for Southeast Asia. He was based in Singapore.
In early 1964 Davis went to Borneo to cover the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. Shortly afterwards Davis made his first visits to Vietnam and Laos. Although he reported from across Asia, he is best remembered for his long association with, and reporting on, the war in Indo-China.
Unusual among foreign correspondents, Davis chose to film the war from the South Vietnamese perspective, shooting acclaimed combat footage on many occasions and acquiring a reputation for skill and luck. He was driven by the desire to obtain the best film he could and was well known for his neutrality, crossing, on one occasion, to film from the Viet Cong side. Davis's main preoccupation was with filming the effects of war and combat on individuals. His neutrality notwithstanding, Davis earned the ire of United States military authorities, but this did not stop American news networks seeking out his film.
During the Tet Offensive in early 1968, Davis covered action in Saigon and Huế. It was during his period in Huế that Davis crossed path with Brigadier General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan. Davis recalls that on meeting Nguyễn Ngọc Loan he "lifted his arm to which he had strapped a machine pistol, pointed it at me and said 'Some day I kill you'". While apparently shocking, Davis knew this was not true and really a reference to events that had occurred earlier during the offensive.
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