“ADMIRATION OF WORLD”

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1930, Page 9

“ADMIRATION OF WORLD”

FEATS OF SIR H. SEGRAVE ELOQUENT TRIBUTES PAID TRAGEDY ON WINDERMERE British Wireless. Rugby, June 15. Sir Henry Segrave’s death in yesterday’s disaster on Lake Windermere, after he had achieved a world water speed record, has deeply shocked the country, and the world's most famous drivers on land and water pay eloquent tributes to his skill and courage, which were combined with engaging modesty which made him one of the most popular sportsmen in England. “By his co.urage, his determination, his vitality, his devotion to an end, Sir Henry Segrave set an example to all men of genius,” says the Times. “In his own field he must bo counted among those who have deserved well of their King, and his name will be remembered in honour.”

“He is lost in the undying attempt to discipline the forces of Nature to man’s purposes, like the men who have died to make flight safer and quicker for the bulk of us,” says the Manchester Guardian. “Sir Henry Segrave was setting experimentally a pace that may be normal to our grandsons. The speedboat will no doubt be the parent of faster and yet more reliable motorcraft than any we yet know, and Sir Henry’s brave grasp at the unattempted will assuredly rank as a heroic enterprise.” Messages of condolence have been received by Lady Segrave from all parts of the world. The King and Queen expressed their sympathy in the following message: “It is with much regret that the King "and Queen have learned of the tragic death of Sir Henry Searave, and I am commanded to convey to you an expression of Their Majesties’ heartfelt sympathy in your irreparable loss.. The King recalls with pleasure the occasion at Bognor Regis when he conferred a knighthood upon Sir Henry, and His Majesty mourns the death of one whose intrepid adventures on land and water were the admiration of the whole world. The Prince of Wales also sent a message saying: “Please accept, my deepest sympathy in your and this countiy s great loss.” The watch used for timing Miss England has been presented to Sir Henry Segrave’s father. It is revealed that Sir Henry Segrave cherished the hope of gaining speed records for land, sea and air, but his death frustrated the last-named, for which he had been negotiating with the Air Ministry to purchase or loan one . of the Schneider seaplanes. At the opening of the inquest the coroner said: “Some may think that this is a life thrown away. There may be something in that.” After formal identification the inquest was adjourned. Halliwell’s body was dragged up close to the sunken Miss England. A pencil was still clutched in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. He was apparently taking notes of the boat’s speed and engine revolutions when the disaster occurred. The Daily Herald publishes a special message from Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, in which he states: “The achievement which cost Sir Henry Segrave his life will be a lasting record, but it is time to count the cost and apply the knowledge now gained of speed.” „ HELD TWO RECORDS. CAREER OF SIR H. SEGRAVE. YACHTING AND MOTORING. Sir Henry O. D. Segrave, officer of tho Royal Air Force, holder of the world’s motor racing record, and a leader in speed motor-boat racing, was born in 1896 in the United States, Bis father was an Englishman, Mr. Charles Segrave. Sir Henry Segrave was educated at Eton and Sandhurst. He was at school when the Great War began, but he joined the Royal Air Force in 1917. After serving as a member .of one of the air missions to America he went into active service with one of the famous scout airplanes. In an air encounter with enemy fliers, however, he was shot down from 8000 feet, and severely injured. On leaving hospital he became secretary to the. Secretary of State for Air. Ho held the rank of major at the end of the war, and he then occupied himself by speed racing. At Brooklands he won prominence by winning the 200-miles race of the Junior Cai* Club. A motor-car firm gained his services, and in 1922 he appeared in all Continental races. The next year he won the Grand Prix de' France at Tours—the first English driver to gain the prize—and in 1924 he won the Spanish Grand Prix. The motoring concern then had a special car secretly built for Segrave. With it, in March, 1926, he. covered a mile at tho speed of 156 miles an hour, a ironiendou? speed at that tirnj.

By March, 1927, Segrave was at Daytona Beach, Florida, with a 1000 h.p. machine. From a flying start he made a mile record of 203.79*2 miles an hour. In one part he was travelling at 207 miles an hour. Ray Keech, then eclipsed Segrave’s time by covering a mile at 207.552 miles an hour on the same course.

It was with lhe object of defeating that, record that Segrave went to Diytona in February last with the Golden Arrow. Ho had the hope of travelling at 240 miles an hour, and when the attempt was made on March 11 he succeeded in travelling at 231 miles an hour. ( Following his return to England, and the praise showered on him from the highest circles, Segrave became keenly interested in motor-boat racing. He took a 1000-h.p. boat, “Miss England,” to the United States, and atempted to beat the American record of 92 miles an hour. At Miami, Florida, he attained a speed of 88 miles. Though the American, Gar Wood, was shown to have a faster boat than

Segrave, Segrave won the Harmswoi th International Trophy simply by his superlative skill at the turns in the course. With the same boat he won an international trophy at Venice last year. . ... “If there was ever a sport,, it is Major Segrave.” This tribute comes from, a wellknown American aquatic writci in an article in the famous boating periodical, “The Rudder.” The writer had been describing Sir Henry Segrave’s contest for the world’s speed-boat championship with Commodore Gar Wood, the American speed driver, at Miami two seasons back. Major Segrave, m an intei view befesre the race between his Miss England and Wood’s Miss America, admitted that the British contender was much slower than the defender. If ever there was a sport, it is Major Segrave,” the interviewer commented. The major competed, knowing his chances were small, but by a trick of fate took final honours. Miss England won the first race, and was the only boat to finish in the second, Miss America having broken down. Lhe British challenger thus more points than his rival.