THE DEATH OF A DUKE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1936, Page 9

THE DEATH OF A DUKE

CAR CATCHES FIRE

EEMAREABLY BRAVE

Flung from his racing car into a trail of.blazing.petrol after a crash in the recent Limerick International Grand Prix, the 22-year-old Duke of Graf ton tried in vain to walk to a stretcher, says the "Daily Express." His clothing was burned off, and he was suffering agony, but he remarked to rescuers, "I am all right I am not too bad.""

A few hours later he died in hospital, and the story of his heroism was told at the inquest at Limerick. Mr. C. O'Donnell, of Limerick, a road marshal, related that the Duke's car, when rounding a bend, leaped into the air., It skidded wildly and crashed into, a wall. Immediately the car' be^ came-enveloped in flames, which rose 30ft,- and ran for 50 yards.

Mr. Albert Bennet, another road marshal, described how he found the Duke lying four feet from the car, surrounded by flames, and with his clothing burned off. He extinguished the fire. The Duke was conscious, and remarked, "I am ■ all right. I. am not too bad." He then tried to walk to a stretcher, but failed to do so.

The Rev. B. Ennis told the Coroner I he was standing at the corner of Sexton Street and saw the Duke's car go over a bump on the road while taking j a turn. The vehicle went into a skid and the driver made frantic efforts to keep it on the road. He failed, and the back of the car bit the wall. Dr. W. O.Sullivan explained that the Duke, was suffering from extensive burns about the body and legs, but was conscious. Death was due to shock and heart failure, following extensive burns from petrol. CAUSE OF FIRE. Mr. S.- Robinson, chief engineer of the Irish Motor Racing Club, who examined the Duke's car immediately after 'the .accident, stated that he "formed, the conclusion that the back of the car,, containing the petrol tank, sruck the wall-first. The petrol spilled on to the red-hot exhaust pipe, and this, in his opinion, caused the fire. The car would be enveloped in flames. He had examined the car before the race and found it in perfect condition; Recording a verdict of "Accidental death," the Coroner, Mr. J. H. McNeice, remarked that the Duke was a great sportsman, who, despite the severe pain 'he was suffering, never offered a word of complaint His loss at such an: early age would be severely felt. :

The coffin containing the body was taken to Dublin, on the way to England by the night mail boat, immediately after the inquest. The Duke's mother, Viscountess Ipswich, and her husband. Major Gavin Hume-Gore, travelled, back with the remains.

John Charles William Fitzßoy, ninth Duke of Grafton, descendant of Charles 11, was the son of the late Viscount Ipswich, and succeeded to the title in 1930, when he was fifteen, on the death of his grandfather. He was a cousin of Captain Fitzßoy, Speaker of the House of Commons. The Duke's father was killed in a flying accident in the last year of the war. Educated at Harrow and Cambridge, the Duke had always had a passion for speed. Six years ago he was slightly injured when a new motor-cycle he was riding skidded. He was a member of the Cambridge Gliding Club, and last December passed his tests as a glider pilot.

In March last he took part in his first big race at Brooklands, and also entered his 2^-litre Alfa Romeo for two of the mountain handicaps there.

The DuV:e is succeeded by Captain Charles Alfred Euston Fitzßoy, eldest son of the Rev. Lord Charles Edward Fitzßoy, fourth son of the seventh Duke. The new Duke is forty-four.