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 report on Sir Henry Segrave's fatal speed boat accident on Windermere.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\5\ img188 | |
| Date | 14th June 1930 guessed | |
| SEARCH BY 100 BOATS Mr. Wilcocks was able to struggle into another boat, but from the moment of the accident there was never a sign of the second mechanic, Mr. Halliwell, an employee of the Rolls-Royce Company from Derby. He was not thrown clear of the boat when she turned over, as far as could be seen, and was probably killed by the engine striking with the water as he sat in his seat. A hundred boats now searched the water near. Other boats drew up alongside Miss England, and their occupants attempted to right her, but her engines alone weigh some 10cwt., and nothing on the lake was large enough to handle her. Attempts were made with boathooks to probe into the cockpit for the missing man, all without success. A few minutes later her bow mooring rope was taken by one of the boats and an attempt made to tow her. The movement at once caused the stern, with its heavy engines, to settle down still lower. Presently the bows only stood upright in the water, and air from the water-tight compartments came hissing into the water as the boat slowly sank. Twenty minutes after the accident she slid quietly down into more than 100ft. of water, taking with her presumably the unfortunate mechanic who did not get clear. SIR HENRY SEGRAVE'S DEATH.—Miss England II., the speed boat in which Sir Henry Segrave yesterday beat the world's record on water, capsized and sank while travelling at about 100 miles an hour on Windermere. Sir Henry Segrave was rescued, but died afterwards from his injuries, and Mr. A.{Mr Adams} V.{VIENNA} Halliwell, a mechanic, was drowned. Mr. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Wilcocks, another mechanic, was saved. The top photograph shows Sir Henry Segrave with Mr. Halliwell (left) and Mr. Wilcocks at Windermere. Beneath is a photograph showing Miss England II. travelling at 100 miles an hour during Sir Henry Segrave's last trial run on Windermere before the accident which occurred after Miss England II. had set up a new record by covering two laps at a mean speed of 98.76 m.p.h. | ||