Evacuation of Children from Guernsey (1940)

Evening Press (Guernsey) dated June 19th 1940

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The Channel Islands were occupied by Germany from 30 June 1940 until the liberation on 9 May 1945. In advance of the occupation 17,000 out of a population of 42000 evacuated to England. The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles to be invaded and occupied by German forces during the war.

Random Ad - Clyno Royal 4-Seater (1925)

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Ever heard of Clyno cars? Believe it (Wikipedia) or not at one time they were Britain's third largest car manufacturer. They existed between 1909 and 1929 but then disappeared along with many other car brands during the 1930's depression.

Random Cutting - Death of Tommy Handley (1949)

10th January 1949

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January 1949

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Tommy Handley was a star of radio from a time before TV when that meant he was heard in just about every home in the land. His comedy show 'It's That Man Again' affectionately known as ITMA was so popular during World War II it spawned a film version.He died quite unexpectedly at 56 years old on the 9th January 1949.  

Soyuz 11 Disaster (1971)

Daily Mail dated July 1st 1971

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The three man crew of Soyuz 11 were returning Earth after spending 22 days on the Salyut 1 Space Station, when a valve opened and depressurised the craft killing the crew within seconds. Cosmonauts  Vladislav Volkov, Georgi Dobrovolski, and Viktor Patsayev died. Salyut 1 was deliberately destroyed after 6 months in orbit.

Random Ad - Dish Washer (1950's)

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The height of sophisticated living in the 1950's - a Colston Automatic Dishwasher. By 1965 the ownership of a dishwasher in British homes had risen to a staggering 1.5%.

Random Cutting - A E Mathews in Hospital (1960)

27th February 1960

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I couldn't resist this picture of the irascible 90 year old character actor A E Matthews smoking his pipe in a hospital bed just 5 months before he died on the 25th July 1960. Matthews was already an established stage actor when he started a film career than lasted from 1914 until 1960.

Murdered by Madmen (1984)

Daily Mirror dated Wednesday April 18th 1984

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25 year-old WPC Yvonne Fletcher was a British police officer fatally shot during a protest outside the Libyan Embassy in St. James's Square, London, on April 17th 1984. Her death resulted in the Metropolitan Police laying siege to the Embassy for eleven days, and the UK cutting off all diplomatic relations with Libya. No one has ever been convicted for the murder.

Random Ad - Non-inflammable Glasses (1930's)

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At last someone has come up with a solution to those pesky spontaneously combusting specs! And they are guaranteed for 10 years, so no peering at that stupid sight chart muttering "Its an M or is it a W, no its a P, definately a P. Shall I try the 2nd line now?" for a decade.

Random Cutting - Sunday Opening (1986)

1986

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The sides are drawn for and against Sunday trading. The Shops Bill which would have de-regulated shop opening times and what could and couldn't be sold on a Sunday was defeated 14 votes on 11th April 1986. De-regulation finally came in 1994. 

Btitish Embassy in Iraq Pillaged (1958)

Daily Mail dated Tuesday July 15th 1958 and 

Daily Express dated July 26th 1958

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The July 14th 1958 Revolution in Iraq resulted in the overthrow of the Hashemite monarchy established by King Faisal I in 1921 under the auspices of the British. King Faisal II, Crown Prince Abd al-Ilah and Prime Minister Nuri as-Said were all assassinated during the coup.Mobs of rioters and looters targeted foreign installations including the British Embassy which was burned. The Defence Attache was killed.

The revolutionaries established the Republic of Iraq as an Arab nationalist and socialist one-party state.

Random Ad - Schweppes (1927)

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I love this beautifully drawn 1927 advert for Schweppes signed by 'Rae' or 'R.A.E.'

Winston Churchill was the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1924 to 1929, but whether or not he fulfilled the Optimist's dream I don't know.

Random Cutting - Professor Serge Voronoff (1936)

9th August 1936

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Due to the delicate language in the item it not immediately obvious that by monkey 'glands' it means testicles, and 're-energised' means able to perform sexually. Serge Voronoff had been grafting small amounts of monkey glands onto human 'glands' since 1920 and was claiming all sorts of benefits including longer life, improved eyesight and a better memory. He also operated on women with monkey ovaries. He was praised not only by the public but also the medical fratenity, but his methods slowly fell out of favour and by the time of his death in 1951 he was the subject of ridicule in the press.