THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (VISCOUNT CRANBORNE) (Lord Cecil)My Lords, many of your Lordships will have heard with a sense of deep grief the sad news of the death on active service of Squadron-Leader Viscount Clive who, as your Lordships know, sat in this House in virtue of his tenure of the ancient Barony of Darcy (de Knayth). I think it is right that I should say a few words on this occasion. The noble Lord was well known to your Lordships, for he was one of those younger members of this House who took a keen interest in its doings in the years before the war. He spoke often here and seemed destined to play a considerable part in your Lordships' House. Then the war came. Viscount Clive was not very young—he was in the later thirties—and he might easily have pleaded his duties to your Lordships' House. But that warm and single-minded patriotism which had always coloured his political thought would not allow him to rest. He had to fight himself against the enemies of his country.
He entered the Royal Air Force and, from the very bottom rung of the ladder, rose step by step by sheer merit and force of character to be Squadron-Leader, in which rank he died. Like another of our younger members, the Duke of Northumberland, he had the honour of seconding the humble Address in reply to the gracious Message from the Throne at the opening of a war-time Session. This is just another sign of how grievous a toll the war is taking from the rising generation in your Lordships' House, as elsewhere. Viscount Clive has fought and died for his country. He himself would have wished no other end. Your Lordships will, I am sure, desire me to express your sincere sympathy with his young widow a and daughter.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, those of us who sit on these Benches 958 would like to associate ourselves with what the noble Viscount the Leader of the House has said about Viscount Clive. We remember the active and useful part he played in the proceedings of the House before the war. His expert legal knowledge enabled him to make a very special contribution to our debates. We also recollect the eloquence of the speech which he delivered so short a while ago on the humble Address. We should like our very sincere sympathy conveyed to his relatives and we should also like the sense of loss we feel at the premature demise of so valuable a person to be known to those who will appreciate it.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELMy Lords, among the heavy losses suffered by your Lordships' House during this war the death of Viscount Clive must be counted one of the chief, for he was one who was regular in his attendance and active in its debates. Although, as the noble Viscount the Leader of the House has said, he was considerably above the normal age for service in the Royal Air Force, he did not hesitate to enlist, and in the service of that Force he met his death. We would express our condolences not only to his immediate family but also to the noble Earl, Lord Powis, who has now lost two sons in the service of the country. To him and to Viscount Clive's widow and children we offer our sincerest sympathy.