On 4th August 1936 John Charles William Fitzroy 9th Duke Grafton [aged 22] was killed racing his Bugatti at the Limerick Grand Prix. Earl Arlington, Viscount Thetford, Baron Arlington of Arlington in Middlesex and Baron Arlington of Arlington in Middlesex abeyant between his sisters Margaret Jane Fitzroy [aged 20] and Mary Rose Fitzroy [aged 17]. His first cousin once removed Charles [aged 44] succeeded 10th Duke Grafton, 10th Earl Euston, 10th Viscount Ipswich, 10th Baron Sudbury.
The Queensland Times reported: "DUKE OF GRAFTON KILLED IN MOTOR RACE. LONDON, August 4. The Duke of Grafton, a keen motorist, was competing in the Limerick International Grand Prix when his car skidded, crashed into a wall, rebounded, and burst into flames. The Duke, whose clothes were burnt off, was taken to hospital, and died later. He was the first Duke of Grafton in 200 years to celebrate his 21st birthday as Duke."
Unknown newspaper: "MOTOR RACING TRAGEDY. DUKE OF GRAFTON. His Car in Flames After Crash. BELFASTMAN WINS AT LIMERICK. The 150 miles motor car race for Limerick International Grand Prix, held yesterday through the streets of Limerick, was won by Arthur Hutchinson, of Belfast, driving the M.G. car entered by J. W. Patterson, also of this city. He was almost the limit man in the race, receiving eleven laps of the two and three-quarter miles circuit and one minute, the only driver starting in front of him being Mangan (Dublin) in a similar make of car entered by Mr. Sheane, of Wicklow. The race was marred by a tragedy. The 22-year-old Duke of Grafton, driving a Bugatti, in the carly stages lost control and crashed into a stone wall. The car immediately burst into flames and though the Duke was soon dragged from the burning car, he had to be removed to Limerick hospital, where he died at 1-22 this morning. Hutchinson went into the lead after a few laps of the race had been covered and averaging just about 60 miles an hour he was never headed, completing the full distance at 57.14 miles an hour and running out the winner by sixteen seconds. In second place came the virtual scratch man of the race, A. C. Dobson, in a one and a half litre E.R.A. car. He had one minute start, from his brother, Austin Dobson, who did not compete. Dobson had the distinction of making the fastest-speed of the race, averaging 69.69 miles an hour. In third place came another English driver, Percy M‘Clure, of Coventry, in a Riley, who averaged — 53.39 miles an hour. Manders, of Dublin, the driver of the Adler, was fourth, with an average speed a little in excess of the winner.
Eyewitness Accounts. T.E. O’Donnell, section marshal: "The car left the ground after hitting a rise in the road, skidded for about 25 yards, and the rear struck a pier. It was immediately engulfed in flames, leaving a trail of fire for nearly 50 yards." Albert Bennett, marshal: "I found the Duke lying three or four feet from the car, surrounded by flames. His clothes had been burned off, but he was able to speak: ‘I am all right; I am not too bad.’"
Two spectators sitting atop the wall into which the car crashed were also seriously burned and required hospitalization. Some marshals sustained burns while attempting to extinguish the flames and assist the Duke.
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