DUKE’S DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 24834, 28 August 1942, Page 5

DUKE’S DEATH

PLANE CRASHES INTO MOUNTAIN (Rec. 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 27. The Duke of Kent’s Sunderland flying-boat crashed in one of the loneliest parts of the highlands. The wreckage was only found after nearly two hours’ search, although witnesses were only a mile distant.’ The fragments of the fuselage were widely scattered over the mountain into which the Sunderland crashed in the mist. The removal of the bodies across the rugged pathless moorland was a task requiring considerable organization. It was done by soldiers, airmen, farmers and shepherds. The Duke of Kent and two others were thrown clear of the Sunderland. They were apparently killed instantly. An Air Ministry official stated that the Sunderland was a Coastal Command machine from an operational station. Its crew and passengers were all members of the services. Therefore, a civil inquiry was unlikely. The official casualty list of the crash gives the names of 14 killed, including Wing-Commander T. L. Moseley, R-A.F., who was the first pilot, Sergeant E. F. Blacklock, R.N.Z.A.F., the second pilot, and Flight-Lieutenant F. M. Goyen, R.A.F., an Australian, who was captain. Flight-Sergeant A. S. Jack, the sole /survivor, is classified as seriously injured. SURVIVOR THROWN CLEAR

The machine, after flying 60_miles, crashed in desolate country. Search parties went out immediately the news of the crash was received. The survivor was the rear gunner. _ He was thrown clear when the machine struck a hillside and, while still semi-con-scious, he . walked three miles before he was found by some crofters, who took him to hospital. The Duke’s body was taken to a Highland castle. The funeral will be held with full military honours and the Dike will be buried in the Royal vaults beneath St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. „ The Duke of Kent’s commanding officer was Air Chief Marshal Sir Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt, Inspector-General of the Royal Air Force. The Dukes job was to visit the stations at Home and abroad and report to his chief on conditions generally. He had covered 40,000 miles inside England and about 15,000 miles abroad.

WIDE SYMPATHY SERVICES RECALLED (8.0.W.) RUGBY, August 26. The Duke of Kent’s ’death has brought messages of sympathy and warm appreciation of his services from the world over. . Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary for Air, has conveyed to the King and to the Duchess of Kent an expression of the deep sympathy of the Air Council, of all ranks of the Royal Air Force and the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and of himself in the tragic loss to the Royal House. He has expressed, in particular, the keen sense of gratitude of all ranks for the Duke’s devoted interest in furthering their well-being. “His loss,” Sir Archibald says, “will be felt deeply not only in Britain, but also throughout the Empire. The Duke’s Air Force duties carried him many thousands of miles and all in the service are conscious of the benefits they now enjoy as a result of his work of inspection, guidance and advice on welfare matters. All those with whom he came into contact have been filled with respect, admiration and gratitude for the keenness with which he served his country’s cause.” The" Duke of Abercorn, Governor of Northern Ireland, in a message, says that the Duke’s visits to Northern Ireland have been an inspiration to all there and have left happy memories behind. The Governor has also sent messages to the Duchess and to Queen Mary. Mr J. M. Andrew, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, has referred to the Duke’s death in Parliament. He said that the Duke’s visits to Ireland set an example of service and self-sacri-fice which will never be forgotten. The Army Council, in messages of sympathy to the King, the Duchess of Kent and Queen Mary, says: “The council gratefully recalls the keen interest always displayed by the Duke of Kent in all aspects of the activities and welfare of the Army, in which he held the rank of major-general and of the two regiments of which 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.” HIGH SENSE OF DUTY

“The high sense of duty and the devotion to arduous responsibilities” of the Duke of Kent are recalled by General J. C. Smuts, Prime Minister of South Africa, in a message to the King. Sir Patrick Duncan, the Governor-Gen-eral, has also sent a message of condolence. In Britain, General Wladyslaw Sikorski, Prime Minister of Poland, and M. Jovanovitch, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia, are among those who have expressed thir sympathy. General Sikorski has recalled that the Duke was to have visited the Polish armed forces on September 8. “Poland has suffered a grievous loss,” he said. M. Jovanovitch went to Buckingham Palace to offer the condolences of the Yugoslav Government. The Court will go into mourning for four weeks, beginning today. A New York message states that the news of the .Duke of Kent’s untimely death has shocked Americans, who held him in the highest regard, especially since President Roosevelt became a god-father to his child earlier in August.

The Press features details of the tragedy and gives lengthy obituaries with pictures of the Duchess of Kent and the children.

The Times in a leader says the manner of his death will make men of the Empire straighten to the tasks still to be done, for the Duke of Kent died on active service for his country like many others who had died already and the countless thousands who yet may die. Among the many messages of condolence received by the King and Queen, Queen Mary and the Duchess of Kent were those from President Roosevelt and Mr W. L. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada.