Friday 29 April 2011

The last Earl of Strathearn

Prince William has been made Earl of Strathearn today. It is a royal title and was previously linked to the Duke of Connaught rather than the Duke of Cambridge.

The last Earl of Strathearn died in Canada in 1943 as a Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys whilst serving as the Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General.

WINDSOR, ALASTAIR ARTHUR DUFF
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Armoured Corps
Unit Text: Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons)
Age: 28
Date of Death: 26/04/1943
Service No: 64562
Additional information: 2nd Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. Son of H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught, K.T., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., and of H.R.H. Princess Arthur of Connaught, R.R.C., of Braemar.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Cemetery: MAR LODGE CHAPEL, BRAEMAR, CRATHIE AND BRAEMAR

He had only been the 2nd Duke of Connaught and Strathearn for just over a year when he died. Before that he used a title from his mother's side of the famly - the Earl of Macduff.

At the time of his death he was ADC to the Governor General of Canada and he died in Ottawa (His granfather, the 1st Duke, had been Governor General of Canada in the early 20th Century

His ashes are in St Ninian's, Mar Lodge Chapel which was the private chapel of the Mar Lodge estate which was owned by his mother at that time. His mother apart from being the Princess of Connaught was also the Duchess of Fife and Countess of Macduff in her own right.

The death of the 2nd Duke is quite strange. Seemingly he fell asleep beside an open window and died of hypothermia!

The fact that he died of natural causes and in Canada didn't stop him being remembered on the Scots Grey's War Memorial on Edinburgh's Princes Street

No comments:

Post a Comment