1177
Scottish King David I hoped to exploit the unpopularity of the Normans by trading on his own English heritage.
Arguably, David I of Scotland’s invasion of England in 1138 was a legitimate attempt to keep England English, after the Kings of the House of Wessex were usurped in the Norman invasion of 1066. David certainly argued it that way, but his rabble of an army had less lofty goals in mind.
Picture: Via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted March 1 2017
1178
A civilian ferry captain was court-martialled by the Germans for thumbing his nose at their U-Boats.
Captain Fryatt was a civilian, in command of passenger ferries in the perilous waters between Britain and the Netherlands during the Great War. With U-Boats patrolling the Channel and regarding civilian shipping as fair game, it was no longer clear what the rules of engagement were, but unlike the enemy, Captain Fryatt conducted himself with courage and honour to the end.
Picture: From the Imperial War Museums, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted February 28 2017
1179
To prove that steam power was the future of railways, George Stephenson held a truly historic competition.
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway, opened in 1830, was the first passenger-carrying line to be operated exclusively by steam locomotives (horses were still sometimes used on the Stockton and Darlington). Initially, there was some hesitation among investors over safety and reliability, so the matter was put to the test near St Helens, at the Rainhill Trials.
Picture: © Geni, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.. Source.
Posted February 28 2017
1180
Richard Hannay reflects on the innocent lives lost, when the lust for power or the desire for revenge makes us less than human.
It is Christmas 1915, and on a secret mission during the Great War, Richard Hannay has found refuge in a remote cottage in southern Germany. The house is kept by a desperately poor woman with three children, whose husband is away fighting the Russians. Hannay comes to realise that, unlike the German government, he does care about collateral damage.
Picture: © Philipp Reiner, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.
Posted February 27 2017
1181
Our hero is sent to deal with some man-eating birds, but cannot reach their lakeside refuge.
Still working off his debt to the gods after killing his children in a blind rage, Heracles is now despatched by his envious cousin King Eurystheus to rid a village of some man-eating birds. However, not everyone is against him.
Picture: © Nojos88, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.. Source.
Posted February 26 2017
1182
The saintly Bishop helped the captain of a merchant ship to cut through the red tape, and save his town from starvation.
St Nicholas (d. 343) was Bishop of Myra, a town in the Roman Province of Lycia, on the southwest coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). According to his 9th-century biographer, Michael, one miracle in particular gained him a reputation in the Imperial capital itself.
Picture: © Babbsack, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.. Source.
Posted February 25 2017