Cutting - Audie Murphy obituary (1971)

1st July 1971

Click to Read

Audie Murphy was one of 12 children in a poor tenant farmer family in rural Texas. His father came and went from their life and finally left for good. When Murphy was 16 his mother died and at 17 soon after Pearl Harbour and America's entry into World War II, he joined the US Army by lying about his age. By the end of the War he had been awarded just about every medal for bravery in combat available including the Congressional Medal of Honour. After the War he turned to film acting and appeared in about 50 film and TV roles including playing himself in the film of his autobiography 'To Hell and Back'. 

Advert - Nolan's Furniture store (1970's)

1970's advert for Nolan's Furniture store in Southbourne. 'All stock at bargain prices' just like those never ending sales at DFS etc.

Cutting - Backing for Britain to Join Common Market (1969)

3rd July 1969

Click to Read

On March 25, 1957, France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg sign a treaty in Rome establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), better known as the Common Market. At first Britain decided not to join the Common Market and established the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1960 as an alternative. 

By the early 1960s, however, the Common Market nations showed signs of significant economic growth, and Britain changed its mind. Because of its close ties to the United States, however, French President Charles de Gaulle twice vetoed British admission; consequently Britain did not join until January 1973.

Cutting -First Evacuation of Schools (1939)

28th September 1938

Click to Read

This is an aspect of the World War 2 London evacuation of children just 3 weeks after the outbreak, that I've never come across before. The use of the words 'cripple' and 'little cripples' as well as describing other kids as ' normal children' would have gone unnoticed at the time but rather jar these days.

Advert - Garrould's Red Cross etc supplies (WWI)

A WWI advert for Garrould's of Edgware Road. For 'the seat of War' read 'up to your ears in mud and bullets'.

Cutting - Peter Manuel not Guilty (1958)

29th May 1958

Click to Read

Peter Manuel was born in the USA of Scottish parents and moved to Scotland when he was 5. He was arrested in January 1958 and confessed to killing 18 people, but he was only tried on 8 counts of murder. As detailed above one of the charges was dropped due to lack of evidence, but despite conducting his own defence and almost convincing the jury of his insanity, he was found guilty of the other 7. He was hanged on July 11th 1958.

Also see this post. 

Advert - Royal Mail Parcels (1980's)

Click to Enlarge

I love the cartoon in this 1980's ad for the Post Office Parcels Service. Note the Vague Fashion shop, the Bodger Tools (with picture of a badger) and the snooty looking lady walking by outside.