From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Newspaper clipping detailing the salvage of the speed boat Miss England II from Lake Windermere and the subsequent investigation.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\5\ img082 | |
| Date | 4th July 1930 | |
| MISS ENGLAND II FLOATS AGAIN AFTER SIXTEEN DAYS IN WINDERMERE Sir Henry Segrave's Stop Watch Found Miss England II, the speed boat with which Sir Henry Segrave broke the world’s speed boat record, and turned turtle and sank in Lake Windermere, has been salved. The adjourned enquiry into the deaths of Sir Henry Segrave and Mr. Halliwell will be held at Hawkshead Police Court by Mr. Poole (Hawkeshead) (Saturday). Our representative has been authoritatively informed that with the exception of the engines the boat has escaped serious damage. The engines were found to be practically undamaged, and the transmission undamaged. Some slight disfigurement and displacement was caused by the sweeping for the boat and a few minor mechanical injuries were sustained probably when the boat capsized, such as the flattening out of a number of the exhaust tubes, as previously stated, and due no doubt to the violent contact with the water when Miss England was travelling at high speed. The engines have been taken out of the speed boat and forwarded to the Rolls Royce works at Derby for overhaul. Nothing has been decided as to any possible reconditioning of the boat nor is there any likelihood of an official statement being made as to the speed boat's future until the enquiry is closed. During the aero tests a lot of data was collected of a technical character which it is understood will be of considerable value in the cause of mechanical science, and may influence future developments in speedboat building. A mistaken idea seems to prevail in certain quarters that the engines were loaned or licensed to the promoter of the undertaking by the Air Ministry, but they are the sole property of Lord Wakefield. When the Government declared its intention not again to compete for the Schneider trophy the engines came off the secret list and almost immediately afterwards Lord Wakefield commissioned Rolls Royce to supply the engines for Miss England II. The week-end saw the last and most interesting stages of the re-floating of the boat after being submerged sixteen days in thirty fathoms of water. The place where the tragedy took place in which two men lost their lives is about 400 yards on the western shore at a point between Balla Wray on the Lancashire side and White Cross corner on the Westmorland shore. When the speed boat was finally brought to the surface on Saturday night it was discovered that the line by which Messrs. Borwick had first gripped her had secured a firm hold behind the rudder, so that if the salvage party had known they could have raised the boat probably a week ago. Such a feat as raising a boat of this tonnage without the aid of divers is not only unique but a great accomplishment. FOUR WISE SLINGS There were days when the weather made it impossible to work, which meant prolonged hours, but the salvage party made the very most of the time since the early hours of the morning until dark. Capt. T. Steel, representing Lloyd’s, with the assistance of a retired sea Captain, Capt. W. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Connoll, Bowness, gave expert aid and suggestions carried out by Messrs. Berwick’s men, and Mr. Fred Cooper, the designer, and Mr. Michael Willcocks, the resident engineer, have rendered assistance in both an advisory and practical capacity. The concluding operations were carried out by means of wire rope slings (four were used instead of the two mentioned earlier, that is, when the middle of the boat was judged, while, to be safe, two more slings were passed under the middle of the boat in the vicinity of the turn step). The right side of these new slings were attached to winches... STUDDING IN THE WATER The craft was partly raised several times, but it was not until Friday that marked progress was made, when the speed boat was lifted well up in the water it was felt to be spinning like a spinning top. Happily the slings held tight the boat was towed nearer shore, Miss England II was towed to 400 yards from shore into High Wray Bay, almost facing the boathouse, where she was left moored over Friday night. Operations were resumed on Saturday morning and shortly after four o'clock in the afternoon the efforts of the party were rewarded by seeing the prow of the speed boat emerge above water. Every safeguard was taken to prevent the boat slipping back into deep water. It was found that the depth here was about 40 feet. The boat was well buoyed between two sand barges and by manoeuvring with planks, and changing the position of the winches, it was gradually raised till the whole of her deck was level with the surface. The water poured from her and she was towed nearer shore. By eight o'clock that night and working over a short time of a quarter of an hour Miss England was emptied of water, that coming out of the engine room being very dirty, caused no doubt by the constant churning of the mud at the bottom of the Lake by the steel ropes when grappling for a hold. LITTLE DAMAGED The boat was then found to be not only floatable but as buoyant as if she had never turned turtle and gone to the bottom. Her superficial damage was comparatively trifling. The chromium plating of the beading had been scraped by the ropes, two aft cleats had been broken, a ventilating shaft damaged by the salvage operations, but these were relatively unimportant matters. The broken stay on the bottom of the boat was just as it was the day she went down. Miss England was then towed between two of Messrs. Borwick’s motor launches, Eva and Wraith, back to the dock at Bowness, the navigators allowing themselves about an hour for the task to avoid any undue risks. Capt. Steel and Mr. Willcocks were aboard Miss England, who rode the water almost triumphantly. Her red, white and blue colouring and silver lining glistened in the gathering shadows of the lake, and merged with the reflections of the tall forest trees on the western shore as she glided lightly along on the gentle wash made by her two escorting companions. By the time the Narrows were reached the news had spread that Miss England was returning to dock, and though the hour was late the lake was speedily dotted with craft of all descriptions, and the small piers and landing stages in the vicinity of the boathouse people swarmed with residents and visitors anxious to secure another glimpse of the famous record-breaker. By eleven o'clock she was berthed high and dry, having shipped remarkably little water on her voyage down the Lake. One of the first things recovered after Miss England came to the surface was Sir Henry Segrave’s stop watch. His wrist watch was recovered on the afternoon of the tragedy, being picked up in the motor boat into which Sir Henry was lifted out of the water. It was found on Mr. Fred Taylor, a young Windermere boatman, who with the help of a boatman, Mr. Philip King to rescue Sir Henry from the Lake. The watch, was found to have stopped at twenty minutes past two, and was returned to Lady Segrave. COUNCIL AND THE DISASTER. Before proceeding with the ordinary business at the monthly meeting of the Windermere Urban District Council on Monday, the Chairman (Councillor Fleming) referred to the death of Sir Henry Segrave and his colleague, Mr. Halliwell. They could place both these gentlemen among the Bownesses who by their country delighted to honour who had willingly risked their lives to enhance the prestige of the country. He proposed “That this Council tender to Lady Segrave and her relations deepest sympathy in the lamentable death of Sir Henry Segrave and the great loss they had sustained.” He also proposed a similar resolution in respect to Mrs. Halliwell and her relations. Councillor Ion seconded and the resolutions were passed with the members standing in silence. J.W. O-S. | ||