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).
Final trials and accident involving the motor boat 'Miss England II'.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\5\ img107 | |
| Date | 13th June 1930 guessed | |
| evening of the same day, June 10th. On the second lap of this test one blade of the propeller broke and the Boat was towed back to the slipway. I made a thorough examination and found that the engines and transmission had not suffered any damage and were still perfectly sound in spite of the sudden increase of loads which would be imposed through the breaking of the propeller. Further trials were made on Wednesday, June 11th and Thursday, June 12th. Both before and after these trials I examined the engines and various systems and found everything to be entirely satisfactory. A propeller blade snapped off during the trial run on the 12th June but this had not had the effect of causing any damage to any part of the machinery. Prior to the attempt on the record on Friday, June 13th I made a thorough inspection of the engines and all the systems connected therewith and found everything to be in perfect order. Before the attempt on the record the engines and various systems had, in accordance with the usual routine, also been examined by Mr. Willcocks,(Sir Henry Segrave's Mechanic), Mr. Halliwell and Messrs. T. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Green and J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} S. Orme, the two assistant Testers whose services had been placed at the disposal of Sir Henry Segrave by Messrs. Rolls Royce Ltd.,and they were all satisfied that everything which came under their own particular supervision was in perfect working order. After completing my inspection I went with Lord Brecknock in Miss London so that we might be in close attendance. Miss England II started on the Lake splendidly and the engines worked to perfection right up to the moment of the accident. When this occurred the Motor Boat which I was in was about three quarters of a mile astern of Miss England II. On realising that the Boat had turned over we immediately proceeded to her at full speed. When we reached her Sir Henry 2. | ||