Lady Grace Drummond-Hay aboard Graf Zeppelin
Lady Grace Hay Drummond-Hay was closely associated with zeppelin travel aboard the Graf Zeppelin and Hindenburg.
Grace Drummond Hay in engine car of LZ-127
Born Grace Marguerite Lethbridge, she was the widow of a British diplomat, Sir Robert Hay Drummond-Hay.
As a journalist for the Hearst press organization, Drummond-Hay made her first zeppelin flight in October, 1928, when she was chosen to accompany five other reporters — including her companion and Hearst colleague Karl von Wiegand — on the first transatlantic flight of the Graf Zeppelin from Germany to America. As the only woman on the flight, Drummond-Hay received a great deal of attention in the world’s press.
Grace Drummond-Hay and Karl von Wiegand in control car of LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin
In March of 1929, Lady Drummond Hay and von Wiegand were once again aboard Graf Zeppelin, for the ship’s “Orient Flight” to Palestine.
Later in 1929 the Hearst organization co-sponsored Graf Zeppelin’s historic Round-the-World flight and their reporter Lady Drummond-Hay was once again a passenger. She was the only woman among the 60 male passengers and crew, which again included her companion von Wiegand. Drummond-Hay’s presence on the flight, and her reporting as the ship circled the globe, garnered tremendous attention in the press.
Ticket for Graf Zeppelin’s Round-the-World Flight
Clara Adams and Lady Grace Hay Drummond-Hay
Lady Drummond Hay’s experience on the Graf Zeppelin’s Round-the-World flight, and her romance with fellow journalist Karl von Wiegand, is the subject of the film Farewell by Dutch filmmaker Ditteke Mensink. Several elements of the film are fictional, as discussed in more detail on the blog.
Lady Drummond-Hay was also onboard the Hindenburg’s maiden flight from Germany to the United States in May, 1936, along with aviation enthusiast Clara Adams.
During the flight, Lady Drummond-Hay wrote and posted a letter to her friend Adams, looking forward to meeting again “as companions in adventure when the next Zeppelin is completed.”
The letter is dated is dated May 8, 1936; the age of the passenger zeppelin ended just a year later, with the Hindenburg disaster of May 6, 1937.
My dear Clara:
I cannot tell you how happy I was to find you on board the Hindenburg as one of the passengers on her first flight from Germany to America. I hope we will meet again as “companions in adventure” when the next Zeppelin is completed, and that once more we will pioneer a path through the air together.
Kindest thoughts always,
your sincere friend,
Grace M Hay Drummond Hay
Lady Drummond-Hay and her partner Karl von Wiegand were in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded the islands in 1942, and both were interned in a Japanese camp. Although Drummond-Hay survived the war and returned to New York, she died of coronary thrombosis in early 1946 as a result of the extremely harsh conditions she had suffered at the hands of the Japanese.
Numa curta filmagem disponível no YouTube de seu relato de uma viagem percebe-se como ela era simpática e descontraída, além de ter uma bela voz e um sorriso sincero. Sem dúvida uma mulher bem a frente de seu tempo.
Such a fascinating character.
Shame she died so Early…
what is the importance of Lady Drummond Hay flying around the world??
How much did the ticket cost? 1929 trip around world?
Dan:
Good article on the Lady Grace Hay-Drummond Hay.
Here are some additional things on the Lady Grace Hay-Drummond Hay that I have looked into.
She was born on 12 September 1895. She passed away on 12 February 1946. In addition to being a journalist, the Lady Drummond Hay also learned to fly. It appears that she was well known in the circles of women pilots.
https://books.google.com/books?id=S5pFmwkaT7kC&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=lady+grace+drummond-hay+pilot&source=bl&ots=175p2TAw0o&sig=wXKQM70SKzWjmk2aWpwwzDHaKq0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CFgQ6AEwDWoVChMI5Y2m1v7xxgIVEzGICh2jmQcC#v=onepage&q=lady%20grace%20drummond-hay%20pilot&f=false
http://altrusatroy.com/9%2017%2012%20minutes.pdf
I found this clip of Captain Ernst Lehmann serenading the Lady Drummond Hay on board the Graf Zeppelin during the round the world flight:
http://footage.framepool.com/en/shot/317392673-karl-henry-von-wiegand-grace-marguerite-hay-drummond-hay-accordionist-earth-circumnavigation
When she arrived in Japan aboard the Graf Zeppelin, the Drummond Hay was treated like royalty. Here is this excerpt from Douglas Botting “Dr. Eckener’s Dream Machineâ€:
“. . . Lady Hay whom the Japanese had dubbed ‘the queen of the Zeppelin’, was the only woman present – ‘queenly beautiful’ as the press described her. Later that evening in a speech to an audience of two thousand in the Asahi Auditorium, she spoke of the honour of being the of being the only woman on the Graf’s world flight, ‘a recognition and a tribute to the women of the twentieth century who are trying so hard to take their place worthily among the workers and history-makers of their generation.â€
As the Graf Zeppelin left Japan, according to Botting the Drummond Hay typed out this note which was sent from the Graf Zeppelin by carrier pigeon:
“Aboard the Graf Zeppelin, Aug. 23 – (by carrier pigeon)
Japan like a lovely mirage, beckons tantalizingly from the fading distance. The garden-like country with its doll-like houses was a wonderful panorama. We have just come out of a beautiful dream, a flowery Utopia, where every one is kind, smiling, helpful and courteous . . .â€
What a bitter irony her internment in a Japanese camp must have been.
There is an award that has been named after her – The Lady Grace Hay-Drummond Hay Trophy (AKA Lady Hay Drummond Hay – Jessie R. Chamberlin Memorial Trophy) by the Women’s International Association of Aeronautics which was given to women in aviation of outstanding achievement. Some of the women who have received this trophy:
Doris Renninger-Brell
http://www.seaboardairlines.org/obits/d_brell.htm
Mary Gaffany
http://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16283coll1/id/352
Viola Gentry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_Gentry
There is also this concoction named after her and here is the recipe:
https://thirstynyc.com/recipe/lady-grace-drummond-hay-hendricks-gin-cocktail/
As a journalist she also covered war zones in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and was a foreign correspondent in Manchuria working closely with Karl von Wiegand. After she was cremated, Karl von Wiegand brought her ashes back to the United Kingdom. At her funeral, as is fitting for the Queen of the Zeppelin, Lady Grace Hay-Drummond Hay wore a jewel given to her by the Ethiopian Emperor Hailie Selassie.
http://www.thefullwiki.org/Grace_Marguerite_Hay_Drummond-Hay
Einer der wunderbarsten Filme der noch zeitlich nahen 85jährigen Geschichte. Es passt einfach alles. Die berührende Story um die junge Journalistin Grace Hay eingebunden in die traumhaften Aufnahmen im und aus dem ersten Luftschiff der Welt, die historischen Aufnahmen von Natur, Land und Leuten und das alles im Zusammenhang mit den hereinbrechenden politischen, persönlichen und Naturereignissen. Dieser materialaufwendige, berührende Film mit seinen einfühlsamen Sprechern und der tragenden Musik präsentiert ein bewegendes Zeugnis der jüngeren Vergangenheit, das so in seiner Gesamtschau einmalig ist. Ein herzliches Dankeschön an das große (und das im doppelten Sinn!) Team der Macher! Ich würde den Film gern als Video kaufen. Mal sehen ob das klappt. Also, unbedingt anschauen.
How can I see this documentary in full?
The documentary is on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4jq7oRxw-g
I have some letters and signed books from Lady Hay Dummond Hay she wrotes to my grandfather. If anyone is interested in copies?
Greetings from Germany
Hi, my name is Avaline Wilson, age 10. I am doing a school project on Lady Grace and I was wondering if I could get a signed copy of one of your letters you have?
Thank you so much
And this, this is why I love the internet 🙂
Mr. Feigel,
I’d be interested in procuring copies of Lady Drummond-Hay’s letters to your grandfather. Would you have a PDF version of this? Otherwise, I’d be pleased to pay for postage.
Are the letters written in German?
I am highly interested in copies of these letters and what books Lady Drummond-Hay signed. Do you think it is possible to acquire a pdf or copies? (Greetings from Germany).
Hello, I would be very greateful to recieve any letter or related documents of hers. I am collecting and conserving documents, photos, and films from 19th and 20th century of my family’s lives. My immidiate family and me have been digitalizing as many items as possible because many of our files are very old and fragile. Most of the files available online are 19th century. Thanks for offering and I hope to be in touch. You’re the best!
I would like copies if available please.
Congratulations to everyone that contributed to this fascinating film. Most engaging and beautifully edited and produced. Keep up the great work.
Jack McAdam