Archive for December, 2010

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The First Anglo-Zulu War

Posted in Anniversary, Famous battles, History on Friday, 31 December 2010

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A Zulu warrior. Illustration by James E. McConnell

11 January marks the anniversary of the outbreak of the First Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. For many years there had been disputes on the borders of lands held by the Zulus and a number of incidents ended in the Zulu king Cetshwayo being given an ultimatum, which he ignored.

The British invasion of Zululand was led by Frederick Thesiger (Baron Chelmsford), who badly underestimated the Zulus. British forces lost heavily at Isandlwana and barely managed to defend Rorke’s Drift and were eventually forced to retreat. After being reinforced, they invaded again and the Zulus were defeated and the Zulu army dispersed. Cetshwayo was eventually restored to his throne in 1882 by the British Government.

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The first milk bottle deliveries

Posted in Anniversary, History on Friday, 31 December 2010

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A milkman on his delivery rounds

11 January is the anniversary of the first ever milk bottle deliveries in 1878. Milk had been delivered earlier, but only to fill jugs owned by customers. The milk bottle was developed and patented in 1877 and the New York Dairy Company is said to have had the first factory producing milk bottles.

In Britain, the first milk bottles were produced by the Express Dairy company in 1880, originally with a porcelain stopper held on by wire and deliveries were made four times a day. Nowadays, thanks to most houses having fridges and cars (which has increased the level of supermarket shopping), the sight of a milkman on his early morning rounds is becoming increasingly scarce.

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Opening of the London Underground

Posted in Anniversary, Transport, Travel on Thursday, 30 December 2010

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The London Underground, the oldest underground commuter transport stystem in the world. Illustration by Harry Green

10 January marks the anniversary of the opening of the London Underground in 1863, the first rapid transport underground railway system in the world. In 1890 it became the first system to operate electric trains. The Underground – of which some 55% is actually overground – has 250 miles of track, 270 stations and carries roughly 3 million passengers a day.

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Royal Exchange

Posted in Anniversary, Architecture on Thursday, 30 December 2010

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Queen Elizabeth I opens the original Royal Exchange. Illustration by C. L. Doughty

10 January marks the anniversary of the destruction of the Royal Exchange designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1838. The original Royal Exchange was opened by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571, having been founded by Sir Thomas Gresham in 1565. The original building was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and a second, Wren-designed Exchange was opened in 1669, only to be destroyed in 1838. The third Royal Exchange, designed by Sir William Tite, was opened by Queen Victoria in 1844. It ceased to be a centre of commerce in 1939 and is nowadays a shopping centre.

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The Lord Mayor’s Parade passes the third Royal Exchange

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Queen Elizabeth destroyed by fire

Posted in Anniversary, Transport, Travel on Wednesday, 29 December 2010

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RMS Queen Elizabeth. Illustration by James E. McConnell

9 January marks the anniversary of the destruction of RMS Queen Elizabeth by fire in Hong Kong harbour in 1972. The ship was launched in 1938, named after the Queen Consort, and made her maiden voyage in 1940 as a troopship during the Second World War. The ship went into service as a Royal Mail carrier and a passenger liner – the largest built at that time – for the Cunard liner. Along with her sister ship, Queen Mary, she was replaced by the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1969 and sold to an Hong Kong businessman. Intended to be used as a cruise liner, the ship caught fire and capsized whilst undergoing refurbishment.

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Birth of John Jervis

Posted in Anniversary, Famous battles, History on Wednesday, 29 December 2010

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John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent

9 January marks the anniversary of John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent and Admiral of the Fleet, in 1735. Born in Meaford Hall, Staffordshire, Jervis ran away and joined the navy at the age of 13, returning when he heard that his family were upset at his disappearance. He was subsequently allowed to join as an able seaman in 1749. After involvement in various battles (including the American War of Independence), he returned to England and took up political office. He resigned in 1794 and subsequently became commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, taking HMS Victory as his flagship.

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The history of H.M.S. Victory. Illustration by C. L. Doughty

Jervis retired in 1807 and sat in the House of Lords. He died in 1823.

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The Battle of Ashdown

Posted in Anniversary, Famous battles, Royalty on Tuesday, 28 December 2010

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Alfred the Great, who finally defeated the Viking invaders in 878

8 January marks the anniversary of the Battle of Ashdown in which Alfred the Great defeated Danish invaders in 871. The Danes were full of confidence from their successful invasion and were prepared to attack the retreating Saxons. Alfred, then a prince aged 21, summoned the scattered West Saxon army of his brother, King Ethelred, and led them into battle. Although he sustained heavy losses, he was able to push back the Danes, killing one of their kings (Bagsecg) and five Earls.

It was not a complete victory, however, and the Danes were able to regroup and defeat the Saxons at Basing later that month; Ethelred was killed in a subsequent battle in March and Alfred succeeded to the throne. It was not until 878 that Alfred was able to finally force the Danes to withdraw from England.

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La Salle reaches Niagara Falls

Posted in Anniversary, Geography, Travel on Tuesday, 28 December 2010

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The spectacular Niagara Falls

8 January marks the anniversary of the French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle’s arrival at Niagara Falls in 1679. Although they had previously been discovered, he was joined on his expedition by Father Louis Hennepin and it was Hennepin’s description of the falls that brought them to the attention of Europeans who made the falls a major tourist attraction.

The falls are amongst the most spectacular in the world and have been immortalised many times. Blondin crossed them on a tightrope, Marilyn Monroe starred in the movie Niagara Falls and many have tried to ride the falls in a barrel. Most of them have died or suffered severe injuries.

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Daredevil Blondin crosses Niagara Falls on a tightrope

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Blanchard and Jeffries cross the Channel

Posted in Anniversary, Aviation, Transport on Monday, 27 December 2010

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Blanchard began removing his clothes and throwing them overboard to lighten the balloon. Illustration by Peter Jackson

7 January marks the anniversary of the first crossing of the English Channel by balloon by Jean-Pierre Blanchard and Dr. John Jeffiries in 1785. Blanchard, wanting to save the glory for himself, had hoped to make the crossing alone and loaded his trousers down with lead weights in an attempt to prove that the balloon would not take off with two passengers. The angry Jeffries, who had financed the balloon, realised he was being tricked and Blanchard was exposed.

He was also exposed a little later during the flight. The two men took off and Blanchard, worried about the additional weight, began throwing everything he could out of the basket – oars (Blanchard was convinced he could row through the air), a propeller and brandy casks were disposed of. Still the balloon sank towards the sea and Blanchard ordered Jeffries to take off his coat; he then began removing his other clothing and throwing it overboard.

Fortunately, a gust of wind lifted the balloon sent the balloon soaring upwards and the two freezing balloonists were carried over Calais to a field 12 miles inland.

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The Battle of the Bulge

Posted in Anniversary, Famous battles, World War 2 on Monday, 27 December 2010

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Heavy snow in the Ardennes region kept British aircraft on the ground, but also hampered the German Panzer advance. Illustration by Ron Embleton

7 January marks the anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, in 1945. It was one of the final German attacks of the Second World War, launched through the densely forested Ardennes Mountains region in Belgium. Launched on 16 December 1944, and led by heavy bombardment and a sharp thrust by German Panzer divisions, the Allies were taken completely by surprise and were driven back, hence the name: the ‘bulge’ being the shape of the initial incursion as seen on maps in contemporary newspapers.

Eventually the Allies were able to push the Germans back and, on 7 January, Hitler signed an order to withdraw forces from the Ardennes.

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