Those of us who haven’t gone completely doolally in these self-isolating times might remember a few weeks ago I wrote Coronavirus Diary 23 – A visit to Caesar’s Pond, Stanmore. This post pretty much carries on from there and just 15 minutes walk through the woods, would I hope bring me to an extremely ancient… Continue reading Coronavirus Diary – Social distancing on the battlefield with King Cassivellaunus – kicker of Roman ass!
Tag: war
War-Time Panic And The British Pet Massacre Of 1939.
There are many things that Britons have been labelled. Napoleon said we were a nation of shopkeepers, he likely meant it as an insult. We’re also famously a nation of gardeners and compared to most others, animal lovers. Perhaps it is that other trait of supporting the underdog as there aren’t many things that are… Continue reading War-Time Panic And The British Pet Massacre Of 1939.
A 1915 piece of fake news… with good intentions
When German Naval Airship Zeppelin L9 appeared over Blyth on the evening of 14 April 1915, it was only the second time bombs had been dropped on England. Although nobody was killed, it marked the beginning of a series of raids on the North-East which would kill many dozens of people. The Zeppelin L9, on… Continue reading A 1915 piece of fake news… with good intentions
Remembering a local disaster – The 75th anniversary of the Sandringham Road V1 attack, Watford.
To commemorate the 75th year anniversary of the 37 people killed in Sandringham Road by a German bomb during World War Two, Watford Borough Council is hosting a service of remembrance at North Watford Cemetery for those who died in worst loss of life in Watford during the Blitz. On Sunday 30 July 1944, a… Continue reading Remembering a local disaster – The 75th anniversary of the Sandringham Road V1 attack, Watford.
The Shortest War in History
No body wants a war, at least not many right-minded people. If there has to be a war then it is best for all involved if it is as short and painless as possible. History is full of lengthy, bloody wars so if you’ve never heard of the 1896 British-Zanzibar war then it is probably… Continue reading The Shortest War in History
The Endcliffe Park Memorial in Sheffield & the incredible devotion of Tony Foulds.
It isn’t often that a tale of war has anything like a happy moment but in recent weeks increasing numbers of people have become aware of a terrible accident in 1944, just one of countless up and down the country that happened in those dark years, Tony Foulds, 82, was just eight years old when… Continue reading The Endcliffe Park Memorial in Sheffield & the incredible devotion of Tony Foulds.
The ticking timebomb shipwreck that could damage half of London
Every now and then a newly made discovery of a long-lost shipwreck makes the news with everything from RMS Titanic to the lost ship of Captain Cook and everything in between. There are a few shipwrecks however that are well known, even visible to us today. Out of them all, there can’t be any more… Continue reading The ticking timebomb shipwreck that could damage half of London
Amiens and The Hundred Days Offensive
This week marks the centenary of one of the pivotal but less known battle of the Western Front in WW1, Amiens and the more broadly labelled 100 Days Offensive. The Western Front is often categorised as being a static war with little or no progress made by either side despite major attempts costing too many… Continue reading Amiens and The Hundred Days Offensive
London VE Day Photos from 8th May 1945
Today is VE Day and I wasn’t going to post anything in particular but a quick search came across countless incredible photos and so I thought, why not! VE Day is a public holiday in several European countries such as France though incredibly not in the UK as though the 8th May 1945 saw the… Continue reading London VE Day Photos from 8th May 1945
RAF Icons of the Jet-Age
Concluding my short series of blog posts on iconic RAF planes to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force we finally reach the period that most of us are best familiar with. The age of the jet engine. Frank Whittle invented the jet engine in 1930 though it was Germany that got the… Continue reading RAF Icons of the Jet-Age