On 15 August 1914, the SS Ancon became the first ship to sail through the Panama Canal. To mark this historic moment, here are three newspaper stories from August 1914 that report on the opening of the Panama Canal. You can also read our blog post about the building of the Suez Canal. Western Daily Press – Monday 17 August 1914 Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000264/19140817/063/0005 Newcastle Journal – Tuesday 18 …
On 30 November 1872, Scotland played England in the first ever official international football match. The match was played on St Andrew’s Day at the West of Scotland Cricket Club ground at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Glasgow, and 5,000 fans watched the game. Although the game ended 0-0, those of a tartan persuasion will very likely tell you that Scotland should have won by a barrowload and that, indeed, it was grand ‘moral victory’ for Scotland. Hmm, perhaps. Included below are some …
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On 14 August 1901, it was claimed that the Bavarian-born Gustave Whitehead (aka Gustav Albin Weisskopf) made the first powered flight, thereby predating the historic flight made by the Wright Brothers by two years. The question regarding the accuracy of Whitehead’s flights in 1901 and 1902 is an ongoing controversy among historians, which is unlikely ever to be resolved. To celebrate Whitehead’s pioneering work in the world of aviation, here are two newspaper stories (published in August 1901) that report …
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Eugene Delacroix, the leader of the French Romantic school of painters, died in Paris on 13 August 1863, aged 65. To mark the day, here is a fascinating article (published on 19 August 1863) about Delacroix’s life and art, including a report on how he was nearly killed on three separate occasions before he had even reached the age of three. Liverpool Daily Post – Wednesday 19 August 1863 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000197/18630819/003/0003
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As today is ‘the Glorious 12th’, here are newspaper stories from 1868 and 1934 that report on the start of the grouse-shooting season. Hampshire Advertiser – Saturday 15 August 1868 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000495/18680815/070/0010 Western Times – Friday 24 August 1934 Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000265/19340824/027/0003 Dundee Courier – Thursday 27 July 1950 Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH …
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The writer, Enid Blyton, was born in East Dulwich, London, on 11 August 1897. To mark the day, here’s a quirky story from a newspaper (published in 1947) that highlights the highly educational nature of Enid Blyton’s work, and how it inspired kids to get up to all sorts of mischievous larks. Hull Daily Mail – Wednesday 28 May 1947 Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19470528/018/0001
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On 10 August 1792, the Paris Mob stormed the Tuileries Palace and arrested Louis XVI, killing the King’s Swiss Guards in the process. Here is a newspaper story published on 18 August 1792 that reports on this bloody and historic moment in French history. Caledonian Mercury – Saturday 18 August 1792 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000045/17920818/007/0002
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We were greatly moved by the story of Charles Ronald Driver (Minnie Driver’s father) in this week’s episode of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ Here is a newspaper report that contains the story about her father’s bravery at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1939. Hull Daily Mail – Friday 29 December 1939 Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19391229/077/0006
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‘At a quarter-to-twelve today, Jack Hobb scored his 54,897th run in first-class cricket, and thus surpassed W.G. Grace’s aggregate of 54,896 runs.’ At Kennington Oval on 9 August 1930, the Surrey and England batsman, Jack Hobbs (‘The Master’), made cricket history by passing W.G. Grace’s aggregate record of 54,896 runs made in first-class cricket. Five years previously, Hobbes made his 126th century, thus passing another milestone record set by W.G. Grace. Here is a newspaper story from 9 August 1930 …
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On 8 August 1944, eight of the army officers who tried to assassinate Hitler in a bomb plot, were found guilty by the People’s Court and hanged the same day. To mark this massive ‘What if?…’ episode, here is a newspaper story (published on 9 August 1944) that reports on the plot, trial and executions of the brave officers. Dundee Courier – Wednesday 09 August 1944 Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19440809/047/0003