As a specialist watercolourist, Daures was an active member of the SPM, Société de Peintres de Montagne, and like his fellow climber and painter, Fourcy, (see page 14) also had a background in engineering. His career with the nascent French railway company, S.N.C.F, was cut short by the Second World War. Daures won a military cross and by sheer coincidence was interned in the same prisoner of war camp as Fourcy. Through their lifelong involvement with the SPM, their friendship endured for the rest of their lives.