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 from 'The Times' about the inquest into Mr. Halliwell's death and the salvage of Sir H. Segrave's boat 'Miss England II'.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\5\ img160 | |
| Date | 17th June 1930 | |
| THE TIMES, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1930 SIR H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} SEGRAVE'S BOAT PLANS FOR SALVAGE INQUEST ON MR. HALLIWELL (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) BOWNESS ON WINDERMERE, JUNE 16 The Coroner's request at the opening of the inquest on the body of Sir Henry Segrave, on Saturday that an effort should be made to raise his speed boat, Miss England II, has evidently borne fruit. This morning, at the resumed inquest on the body of Victor Halliwell, the engineer who was drowned in the accident, Mr. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Handley, of Windermere, solicitor, appearing for the Rolls-Royce Company, Limited, said he was instructed that the underwriters were arranging or actually attempting to salve the boat. This might delay some little time the statements he (Mr. Handley) undertook on Saturday to supply as to the cause of the disaster. The Coroner replied that it would be very desirable to wait until the boat was raised before fixing a time for the further continuation of the inquiry. Mr. Handley said that the evidence which would be obtained from the boat itself would probably make little difference, but would probably confirm beyond all reasonable doubt the theory that had been formed by the experts as to the cause of the disaster. James Edward Klee, one of the technical staff of Rolls-Royce, Limited, an experimental engineer, of Hazlewood, Derby, staying at Rosedale, said he had known Mr. Halliwell about 2 1/2 years and last saw him alive at 2.6 p.m. on Friday, June 13, in the Miss England II motor-boat. Mr. Halliwell's full name was Percival Victor Conrad Halliwell. He was 31 years old and lived at Cranmere, Chain-lane, Littleover, Derby, and was an engineer. Mr. Handley, addressing the Coroner on behalf of Rolls-Royce, Limited, Sir Henry Royce, and Mr. Cooper, asked leave to state the circumstances in which Mr. Halliwell came to be in the fatal boat and meet his death. Mr. Halliwell was a graduate of Bristol University and chief experimental aero engine tester of Rolls-Royce, Limited, Derby. The firm would like it to be made clear that Mr. Halliwell's duty was finished when the boat was launched and the engines were found to be turning over properly. Later he undertook, at Sir Henry Segrave's request, to assist with the installation of them. When Sir Henry Segrave decided that the time had come to make a test of the boat under official conditions he said he would like a Rolls-Royce man in the boat and suggested Mr. Halliwell as the best man for the job. A GRAVE RISK Mr. Halliwell must have realized the grave risk he was taking and the grave responsibility he incurred as a man with a wife and child, and he must also have realized that if the record was broken, as it was broken, it would be broken by Sir Henry Segrave and Mr. Halliwell and Willcocks, and therefore that he had nothing to gain except the consciousness of a good job of work very well done, but he was assured by Sir Henry Segrave's associates that from the point of view of the men who worked for him one of the most striking characteristics of Sir Henry Segrave was his intense anxiety that the fullest possible credit should be given to the men who by their skill and devotion to his service and by sharing his risks had made his own exploits possible. If Sir Henry Segrave had survived he would have been the very first to have insisted that the honour gained by him should be shared by Halliwell and Willcocks in a very slightly varying degree and only second to Sir Henry's own. Mere words could be no consolation at all, but Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Limited, Sir Henry Royce, and Mr. Cooper, his clients, felt that these facts might be some solace to Mr. Halliwell's widow and family, when they realized that the manner of his death did typify the spirit of all that was best in British sport. They very deeply regretted the loss of a very brave man, and offered their profound sympathy. The Coroner adjourned the inquest. From Mr. George Borwick, of Bowness, who has been entrusted with the salvage operation, I learned this morning that less difficulty is anticipated in raising the Miss England II than was generally believed been. The boat was actually located in the dragging operations for the body of Mr. Halliwell, and, in Mr. Borwick's belief, she rests on an even keel. A pile-driving boat will be used for the salvage work, and from this vessel a loop of chain will be cast round the tapered bows and tapered stern of the wreck. The upper ends of the chains will be secured to another chain passing over the top of the derrick in the pile-driver, and this chain will be wound up on the windlass in that boat. An effort will be made to tow the Miss England II, before she reaches the surface, towards the land to a place where the water is less deep. Her present position is at a depth of 19 1/2ft., which is much too deep for any examination by a diver. MR. HALLIWELL'S WIDOW AND SON Rolls-Royce, Limited, have issued the following statement:— 'The matter of provision for the widow and son of the late Mr. Halliwell has been having, and is still having, the careful consideration of all parties concerned, and it is hoped that as a result they will be adequately provided for. No effort has been spared by Rolls-Royce, Limited, to meet all the immediate needs of Mrs. Halliwell and her son.' | ||