DUKE OF KENT WORLD-WIDE SYMPATHY

Evening Star, Issue 24284, 27 August 1942, Page 4

DUKE OF KENT

WORLD-WIDE SYMPATHY

HIS KEEN SENSE OF DUTV ( (British Official Wireless.) (Roc. 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 26. The death of the Duke of Kent has brought messages of sympathy and warm appreciation of his services from the world Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Secretary for Air, has convoyed to the King and the Duchess of Kent an expression of tho deep sympathy of tho Air Council, of all ranks of the B.A.F. and W.A.A.F., and of himself, in the tragic loss to the Royal House. He expressed in particular the keen sense of gratitude of all ranks for tho Duke’s devoted interest in furthering their wellbeing. His loss would be felt deeply not only in this country hub throughout tho Empire. The Duke’s Air Force duties had carried him many thousands of miles, and all in the service were conscious of the benefits they now enjoyed as a result of his work of inspection, guidance, and advice on welfare matters. All those with whom he came into contact had been filled with respect, admiration, and gratitude for tho keenness with which he served his country’s cause.

The Duke of Ahercorn, Governor of Northern Ireland, stated that tho late Duke’s visits to Northern Ireland had been an inspiration to all there, and ho had left happy memories behind. Tho Governor also sent messages to the Duchess and Queen Mary. The lit. Hon. ,T. M. Andrews, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, referred to the Duke’s death in Parliament, and said his visits to Ireland had set an example of service and self-sacrifice never to bo forgotten. The Army Council sent messages of sympathy to the King, Duchess of Kent, and Queen Mary, in which it was stated; “The council gratefully recalls the keen interest always displayed by the Duke of Kent in all aspects of activities, and in the welfare of the Army, in which he held the rank of major-general, and of two of whose regiments he was colonel-in-chief. All ranks of the Army mourn the loss of one who set a fine example of devotion to duty and .who has given his life while serving his country.” “ The high sense of duty and devotion to arduous responsibilities ” of the Duke of Kent are recalled by General Smuts in a message to the. King. Sir Patrick Duncan, Governor-Gene-ral of South Africa, has also sent a message of condolence. In (Britain, Gneral Sikorski and M. Jovanovitch are among those who expressed their sympathy. General Sikorski recalled that the Duke was to have visited the Polish armed forces on September 8. “ Poland had suffered a. grievous loss,” he concluded. M. Jovanovitch went to Buckingham Palace to offer condolences on behalf of the Yugoslav Government. The Court will go into mourning for four weeks beginning to-day.