THE TREMATON SMASH

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 28 May 1928, Page 11

THE TREMATON SMASH

HOW IT OCCURRED THE 'ROYAL SYMPATHY . (From "Tho Post's" Roprosontatlve.) LONDON, 21st April. Viscount Trematon, only son .of tho Earl of Athlone and of 'Princess ■Alice Countess of Athlone, and Queen Alary's nephew, died peacefully in France, fbllowing tho injuries he sustained in tho motor accident on the road to Lyons on Ist April. Although Lord Trematon was reported, to . bo ■: progressing well, tho repeated haemorrhages could_ not be checked; and the project, of ah operation for blood transfusion had to bo abandoned. Lord Trematon's old nurse went from London to be with him, as 'well as Dr. Howit, who arrived to assist the French, doctor at tho .Bcllqville-ijur.-S.aono Hospital, to which Lord . Trematon . was taken. The nurse was with him to. tho end.. On; the eve of .his.'death. Lord ; Trematon was. Quito conscious, although in a state of great weakness, and said, 'to her: "I inn gong to die soon." Major Seymour, the personal representative of tho King and Queen, who had left Belleville-sur-Saone when- Lord Trematon's condition showed improvement, ..and was hurriedly, summoned back, was also -present. :' .. '".',[".■ . Lord Trematon, was .born 'oil'/ .. 2.4 th August, 1007. Ho was sent to.'Eton -arid was in Mr. S. G.."Lubb6ek's house. He was. a "wet bob," but never took a prominent part in races. Ho was very popular- with his schoolfellows, and developed into a young man of fine physique. On leaving Eton in. 1925, Lord. Trematon went up to ;Trinity, College, Gambridge, where also he made many friends. He was of an-, inquiring turn of mind and was keenly interested in wireless and engineering. He was, fond of riding, and. was often seen in (Windsor Great Park on his favourite/, pony. He was also » keen cyclist. He spent many-happy hours at the Henry'lll. Tower, Windsor Castle, where his . parents lived before Lord Athlone's appointment as Governor-General of the Union of South Africa in 1024. Last year Lord Trematon visited his parents in South Africa, and while there obtained a great deal of big game shooting, being an excellent shot. On his nineteenth birthday he shot a lion and buffalo, and rhinocerous, also fell 'to his gun. Known to his friends ,as Rupert, he was a groat favourite with them. The funeral took place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor. Lord Trematon's body will rest in tho Royal Tomb House, whero his grand-parents, the Duko and Duchess of i Albany and tho Duke, and Duchess of Teek, are buried, and also his uncle, tho Marquess of Cambridge.' ME. KENRICK MADOCKS. A large concourse of people, including residents of the district and friends of th© family, attended tho funeral of Mr. Kenriek Alexadner Napier Madocks, younger son of Brigadier-General W. R. N. Madocks and Mrs. Madoeks, Glanywern Hall, who was with Lord Trematon and Mr. T. Stewart-Clarke when tho accident happened, and who died shortly after. Tho interment took place- in the churchyard at Llandyrnog, in which parish tho' family havo long, resided. The chief mourners were: — Brigadier-General and Mrs. Madocks, Mr. Gwyn Madocks (brother), Miss Juliet Madocks (sistor)j Lord and Lady Elibank (uncle and aunt), 'Miss H. J. Madocks, Major-General and Mrs. Sandbach, Lady Stewart Clarke, Mr. T. Stewart Clarke, Messrs. Armit'ager H. Armitago, P. Trittoil, Julian Day, Henry Boger Frankland, and W. Poacock (all personal friends of the deceased). The choral service in church was conducted by the Bey. W. T. Williams, who also officiated aat tho graveside. At tho same hour a memorial service was held at Christ Church; Westminster. Among those present in the largo congregation were: Tho Hon. Mrs. Madocks (grandmother), Mrs. Nigel Balfour. (aunt), Captain and Mrs. H. 11. Balfour (cousins), Miss Balfour^ the Dowager Lady Napier of Magdala,Mr. and tho Hon. Mrs. Nisbett, Countess Mrrtinengo Cosaresco, the Marchioness of Cambridge, Captain Douglas Beech, Mrs. Reginald Beech, Mrs. Arundell Clarke, Lady Wholer, Lady Zouche, Mrs. Driborg, ■ Commander and Mrs. Bissctt, Lady Cowan, Miss Bobins, Mrs. George Nation, and Mr. Bobert Armitagc. General and Mrs, Madocks received a lengthy messago of sympathy from tho King, and Queen, and they have had very many messages of condolence from their numerous friends. Their son was educated at Et<-n and Trinity College, Cambridge, and was studying at the London Scli'ool of Mines. Ho joined tihe Cambridge Art Squadron, and on leaving Cambridge became an officer of the. Royal.Air Force Beserve. He was an accomplished pilot. He rowed at. Henley in the Eton eight,.and again as a member of the Third Trinity eight: last year in tho final for tho Ladies' Plate. •■■■•■ ACCOUNT OF ACCIDENT. Brigadior-Genoral Madocks relates briefly what he believes to have been tho cause of the accident. The threo ■friends were en route for Cannes to spend their Easter holiday, travelling in Mr..Stewart Clarke's car. Each mem,ber of tho party -took turns in driving. On Sunday afternoon, Ist, April, when about 40 miles from Lyons, they- pulled up for a few minutes -and Lord Trematon took-the wheel. A French car passed them, and about half .an hour later they caught it up. As they were-well up to time the party decided they would' not attempt to'pass the car. Suddenly and wit.hqut Warning :the French ;.,.car pulled, oybr to; the "side of ,the road'and stopped.. dead, Th'ei'c' was1'- iip ;roonv to; pass on. the- left, and' Lord Trematon was forced to attempt to pass on tho right side. Ho just managed to clear tho French car, but touched a tree close to the road with the off back wheel of the car. The impact caused, the car to get out of, control, and it. crashed into, the next tree.- Mr.. Madoeks, who was sitting at the rear, of "tlio car', behind Lord Trematon,.-was picked, tip'on^'tho road in an unconscious*/.state, fi'bin which ho never recovered. He died at 10.30 p.m. at the Convent Hospital, at Belleville, about two miles from the scone of the accident. , The back por-, tion of the car was completely wrecked. Mr. Stewart Clarke escaped -with a shaking' and a few. cuts".' There ..was no confusion as .to the' French rule.,of tho road, which'has been stated to^be tho cause of the ace-Ide'ufe '■'>■ »'''- /lA-.j Brigadier-General and Mrs. Madoeks left London for Lyons on Monday morning as soon as they received news of the accident, but they did not hear the worst till their train was leaving Paris.