ROMANTIC CAREER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21781, 21 April 1934, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROMANTIC CAREER

CLERK BECOMES DUKE CLAIM TO ROYAL LINEAGE DESCENT FROM CHARLEMAGNE The romantic cnrcer of a former railway clerk who claimed descent from Charleinagno and assumed a French dukedom is recalled by tho death in Malta on March 4, at the age of S3, of Shcrard John Otway Pole-Sherard-Cufl'o, " fifth Due do Pleneuf."

From 1909 to 1912 tho duke was a clerk in the secretary's office of tho Great Western Railway at Paddington, London. Ho was always immaculately dressed, and arrived at his work wearing a morning coat, top hat and a monocle. Ho gave elaborate musical At Homes in his West Ealing flat, wearing Court dress and employing a footman to receive his guests. On one occasion ho had an orchestra in Chinese dress.

Tho duko claimed the Dukedom of Pleneuf and the Marquisato of Grainville and Pleneuf in 1905, without Royal licence, and assumed, the titles in 1912 by statutory declaration. r lhe l'rcneh archivists did not recognise the titles. Ho claimed that the titles were conferred on the family of his grandmother, Caroline Theresa, wife of Captain John Otway Cuffe, by Louis XVL, about 1790. Ho also claimed descent from Charlemagne, Rollo tho Dane, lirst Duko of Normandy, tho Plantagenots and a younger brother of tho first Baron Desart (created in 1733). For some years tho duko had occupied Pleneuf Court, Guernsey—a remarkable building filled with antique

furniture and ancestral portraits. He was a familiar figure in Guernsey, and was accustomed to drive about accompanied by a liveried chauffeur and footman. He occasionally wore the resplendent uniform of a Grand Officer of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, which, he said, he had obtained* in return for a contribution of £SOO to the upkeep of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. He was also an Officer (First Class) of the Order of La Civilisacion do Santa Rosa (Honduras).

According to the reference books the Due de Plcneuf was educated at Brighton College, was a lieutenant in the° 4th Highland Light Infantry (1907-9), ft ova I Fusiliers (1914-15), on the Admiralty War Statf (1916-17) and second lieutenant Welsh Guards (1917). He served in the Ministry of Pensions from 1917 to 1922. The duke was twice married, .first in 1922 to the widow of Mr. J. B. da Costa fticci, Financial Adviser in London to the Portuguese Government, and secondly, in 1933, to the widow of Mr. James Stewart Kennedy.