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 article reporting on the death of Sir Henry Segrave during a water speed record attempt.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\5\ img183 | |
| Date | 13th June 1930 | |
| DISASTER: SIR H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} SEGRAVE Mr. Charles Segrave, a son of Sir H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Segrave's half-brother, who had flown from London to Windermere, was told of Sir Henry's death. Mr. Segrave collapsed, but within 15 minutes he continued his journey to Windermere in Sir Henry's car, which had been sent to Manchester for him, and learned that his father had passed on his journey. Mrs. Segrave arrived at Windermere shortly before 10 o'clock, and immediately went to see Lady Segrave. OFFICIAL TIMES. Before Sir Henry Segrave died the following notice was hung in the window of the Windermere Motor Boat Club:— MARINE MOTOR ASSOCIATION. WINDERMERE. 13/6/1930. Miss England II.: World's Unlimited Record. First Run, S. to N. 45 sec. equals 93.72 knots; 96.41 miles per hour; 155 kilometres per hour. Second Run, N. to S. 41 secs. equals 87.8 knots, 101.11 miles per hour; 162.72 kilometres per hour. Mean speed 92.7 knots equals 98.76 miles per hour; 158.93 kilometres per hour. T. Lindsay Lloyd, S. Gropes Reynolds, Official Timekeepers. Subject to confirmation by the International Marine Yachting Union. Mr. Bamford asked if he had any theory as to the cause of the accident, said that the boat struck some submerged object. The theory that the boat had a hole in it was, in his opinion, incorrect; if she had had a hole in her the boat would have sunk quickly. His theory was that the movable "step" which has to do with the planing under the boat, and which can be let down under the boat, struck a submerged object, but struck in such a way as to catch the air, so that it actually pulled the boat over. When the boat was seen lying upside down the step could be seen partly torn away on the left side. The manager of Saunders Roe, who built Miss England and who knew Sir Henry Segrave well, said: "It looks as if there must have been an obstruction. I do not think there could have been anything the matter with the boat or engine. All the technical experts will await some evidence as to the actual cause of the accident with the greatest anxiety, and meanwhile I can say that we deplore the death of a great adventurer and sportsman." TRIBUTES TO SEGRAVE. GREAT ADVENTURER AND SPORTSMAN, AND A GALLANT GENTLEMAN. The following tributes was paid to Sir Henry Segrave last night: Mr. Kaye Don (the racing motorist): "Great Britain has lost one of her greatest sportsmen" The Prince of Wales gave... perhaps one of the truest pictures of Sir Henry. "I would describe him as a hero," he said, "I am sure all of us take off our hats to him as a very brave man and a very fine sportsman." SIR HENRY'S CAREER. WANTED TO HOLD THREE PRINCIPAL SPEED RECORDS. ATTAINED OVER 231 MILES AN HOUR ON LAND. Sir Henry Segrave was born in the United States in 1896, his father being Charles Segrave, an Englishman. He was educated at Eton and Sandhurst. When the war began he was at school, but in 1917 he joined the Royal Air Force. After serving as a member of one of the air missions to America he went into active service with one of the famous scout squadrons. In an encounter with enemy airmen, he was shot down when flying at a height of 5,000 feet and badly injured. When he got out of hospital he became secretary to the Minister for Air. At the end of the war, with the rank of major he turned to motor racing. Within 10 days in March, 1929, he won the world's land speed record and the world's motor boat speed championship. At Daytona Beach, on March 11th, he attained a speed of over 231 miles an hour, nearly four miles a minute, in the "Golden Arrow," wresting the world's land record from Mr. Ray Keech, the American. RECEIVED A KNIGHTHOOD. Then on March 21st he raced Sir Charles Wakefield's motor boat Miss England, the predecessor of the ill-fated craft which met with disaster yesterday, against Gar Wood's Miss America VII, at Miami Beach, Florida. He was beaten by the American in the second heat, but he gained for Great Britain the comparatively slow water speed of 92.838 miles an hour for Miss England. Sir Henry's work in advancing the prestige of Britain by his two great victories was recognised by a knighthood from the King. It was on April 4th in the Honours List of April-May this year that a knighthood had been conferred on him. Three days after his feat at Daytona Beach Sir Henry announced that he would retire from motor racing. When in April this year there were reports that he was again to take part, Lady Segrave said in an interview, "I shall be very disappointed if he races again." Sir Henry in 1925 married Doris, daughter of Mr. Walter J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Hocker. There are no children. WANTED THREE RECORDS. Shortly before he left for Windermere, Sir Henry was negotiating for the purchase or loan of one of the high-speed seaplanes which took part in the Schneider Trophy competition last year. A friend of Sir Henry's said last night, "He has often told me it was his ambition to hold the three principal speed records of the world—land, air, and water. He added, 'I am confident that I shall get the water boat record, and then I want to have a shot at the air. When I have got all three I am going to be finished with speeding.'" OPENING OF INQUEST. As Sir Henry Segrave died in the Lancashire District of Furness, the inquest will be held by Mr. Frod W. Poole, the Furness Coroner, at 5.30 this evening, at Start. Only formal evidence of identification and medical evidence will be taken to-day. Image Caption: THE LATE SIR HENRY SEGRAVE. WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH? Photo: "The Lancashire Daily Post." A photo of the famous speed pioneer. All who knew him will agree with The Prince of Wales' description of him as "a very brave man and a very fine sportsman." | ||