Random Cutting - Greys Cigarettes (WWI)

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First World War anti-German propaganda used for cigarette advertising resulted in this bizarre image of man and horse wearing gas-masks. Cigarettes '... for real men' not poison gas weilding Huns!

Random Cuttings - Al Capone and Edgar J Hoover (1938)

9th September 1938

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28th September 1938

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The roaring twenties and the blood soaked thirties were nearly over and the era of the Gangster was over, or so J Edgar Hoover thought. Al Capone was in Alcatraz and would stay there until January 1939 when he spent the last 11 months of his sentence in Terminal Island slowly but surely going mad - not just from fear but from neurosyphilis. 

Mr Churchill Takes Over (1951)

News Chronicle dated Saturday October 27th 1951

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In the General Election in 1945 the British public had decided that Winston Churchill, who had led the Country to victory against the Nazis, was not the man to lead the Country into the post-War World, so elected a Labour Government under Clement Attlee by a huge majority. By 1950 Labour were struggling to retain the confidence of the Country and in the General Election of that year won by a slender margin of only 4 seats. Within a year Clement Attlee decided to 'go to the Country' and announced another General Election in 1951. This time the Conservatives under Winston Churchill won. 

The turnout of voters in the 1951 Election was 82.9% which remains the 2nd highest turnout since World War 2. The highest since 1951 was in 1974 with 78.8% and the lowest 2001 with just 59.4% of the electorate bothering to turn out.

Churchill was in his mid 70's in 1951 and his health was deteriorating, so in 1955 he retired and Anthony Eden took over as Prime Minister.

Random Ad - The Co-op Super Savers (1976)

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The good old Co-op never really went in for slick glossy advertising - this 1976 example looks like it was knocked together with some left over Letraset during someone's tea-break. I like the prices though.

Random Cutting - Basil Rathbone dies (1967)

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Benedict Cumberbatch was not the first to portrayed Sherlock Holmes as a contemporary sleuth. The Basil Rathbone series of Holmes movies (Dressed to Kill, Terror by Night,  Pursuit to Algiers, The Woman in Green etc) were set in the 1940's when they were made. 

Born in South Africa but brought up in England, Philip St. John Basil Rathbone died on 21st July 1967 at the age of 75 and is remembered not only for Holmes but as a character actor in several horror films and the villian in Errol Flynn's version of Robin Hood.

Indian Independence

The Times Weekly Edition dated Wednesday 20th August 1947

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Although Britain had been active commercially and politically in India since 1612, it wasn't until 1858 that the British Government took over complete control of the country. This British Raj (or Reign) lasted until just after midnight on the 15th August 1947 when India became Independent and a part of the British Commonwealth. Unfortunately the British policy of partitioning India into India and East and West Pakistan led to widespread bloodshed between Hindu, Moslem and Sikh factions. 

Random Ad - Babycham (1980)

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Babycham, the sparkling perry, was launched in 1953. This advert is from the 1980's.

Random Cutting - Vera Renczi awaiting trial (1925)

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This is from the Sunday Express 24th May 1925. Serial killer Vera Renczi was subsequently found guilty of murdering 35 people and sentenced to life in prison where she died.

Invasion of Grenada

Daily Mirror dated Wednesday 26th October 1983

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The Caribean island of Grenada was an British colony up until 1974 when it was given Independence. In 1979 a pro-Cuban and pro-USSR People's Revolutionary Government took over by force. By 1983 the US were getting nervous about the number of Cuban military personnel that were on the Island and staged an invasion on 25th October. The local Government was overthrown and after the American troops left in December 1983, a democratic election was held and the Grenada National Party won.

The U.N. and British Governments were highly critical of the invasion.

Random Ad - Milton Vermin killer (1919)

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Milton vermin killer. Kills lice, bed bugs and nits. Even kills cockroaches. And mice. Removes stains and destroys plant pests. Oh... and feel free to pour it over your food before eating it.

Random Cutting - Enoch Powell and Migrant Racket (1976)

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Cutting from 26th May 1976. Member of Parliament John Enoch Powell had previously made headlines with his Rivers of Blood speech in 1968 when he warned that Britain would have similar racial problems and violence as the USA had been experiencing, if we didn't control immigration.

Italian Earthquake

Daily Herald dated Thursday 24th July 1930

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This 6.6 magnitude earthquake happened during the night of the 22nd/23rd July 1930 in the Irpinia region of Italy with an eventual death toll of 1,404 people and over 70,000 made homeless. Also known as the Vulture Earthquake it is listed as the most destructive in Italy's history.