Revd Nicholas Pye
@RevdPye
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Christian, Husband, Dad, Educational Consultant, Clergy, Ex-Teacher, Ex-School Governor, WW1 Researcher, @EssexCricket & @Coventry_City supporter. Views my own.
North London, UK.
Joined June 2020
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19 Sept 1944, Wing Cdr Guy Gibson, died in action, aged 26. Born in Simla, India. Led RAF 617 Squadron in Operation Chastise, Dambusters raid, for which he was awarded Victoria Cross, becoming at time most highly decorated British serviceman. Completed 170+ operations.
#WW2
85
539
4K
27 Sept 1915, Lt John Kipling, Irish Guards, died Battle of Loos, aged 18. Son of author Rudyard, who’d pulled strings to get him commission after he’d been rejected by Navy & Army due to poor eyesight. He only accepted son was probably dead in letter of June 1919 to War Office.
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1K
4 June 1940, Prime Minister Churchill makes famous speech: 'we shall fight on the seas & oceans, we shall fight .. in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost ... we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds .. we shall never surrender'.
#WW2
16
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901
27 Sept 1915, Cpt the Hon Fergus Bowes-Lyon, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), died, aged 26. Buried Quarry Cemetery, Vermelles. Killed Battle of Loos fighting on Hohenzollern Redoubt. Older brother of Queen Mother & Uncle to the late Queen. Left widow & 2-month-old daughter.
#WW1
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9 Oct 1895, Eugene Bullard, 1st African-American military pilot, flew for France in
#WW1
as part of French Foreign Legion (FFL), born Georgia (d.1961). Oct 1914, enlisted in FFL, seriously wounded at Battle of Verdun. Took part in over 20 combat missions. Awarded Croix de guerre.
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11 Dec 1917, British Gen Allenby took surrender of
#Jerusalem
. Entered city on foot thro' Jaffa Gate, in deliberate contrast to perceived arrogance of Kaiser's 1898 entry on horseback. He reputedly said, “I won’t ride my horse into the city into which my Lord rode a donkey.”
#WW1
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774
20 Dec 1943, ace Franz Stigler declined to shoot down badly damaged B-17 bomber, escorting it until it left German airspace. B-17, piloted by Charlie Brown, on its first mission & shot up b4 it could release its bombs. 1990, 2 pilots met & became friends until both died in 2008.
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11 Dec 1917, British Gen Allenby took surrender of
#Jerusalem
. Entered city on foot thro' Jaffa Gate, in deliberate contrast to perceived arrogance of Kaiser's 1898 entry on horseback. He reputedly said, “I won’t ride my horse into the city into which my Lord rode a donkey.”
#WW1
21
138
650
It's been announced that Sq Ldr Johnny Johnson, last survivor of
#WW2
Dambusters raid, has died aged 101. Jonny was bomb-aimer in 617 Squadron & is on far left of photo of crew of Lancaster ED285/'AJ-T', taken at RAF Scampton on 22 July 1943. May he rest in peace & rise in glory.
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22 Feb 1943, Sophie Scholl (21), Hans Scholl (24) & Christoph Probst (23), members of White Rose resistance beheaded by guillotine in Germany for distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich. The Scholls were Christians & Porbst was baptised just before killed.
#WW2
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Yesterday I visited the grave of one of my heroes - Cpt Noel Chavasse, British doctor, Olympic athlete & Army officer. One of only 3 people to be awarded Victoria Cross twice. His dad was Bishop of Liverpool & his twin became Bishop of Rochester. He had deep Christian faith.
#WW1
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23 Apr 1861, Field Marshal Edmund Allenby born. Led Egyptian Expeditionary Force in
#WW1
Sinai & Palestine Campaign against Turks. Having captured
#Jerusalem
in Dec 1917, entered city on foot. Reputedly said, “I won’t ride my horse into the city into which my Lord rode a donkey.”
19
80
580
9 July 1918, Major James McCudden RAF, killed, aged 23. Aircraft crashed on take-off at Auxi-le-Château. 57 victories. 7th-highest-scoring
#WW1
ace. Buried Wavans British Cem. Words on headstone: fly on, dear boy from this dark world of strife on to promised land to eternal life.
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19 Sept 1944, Wing Cdr Guy Gibson, died in action, aged 26. Born in Simla, India. Led RAF 617 Squadron in Operation Chastise, Dambusters raid, for which he was awarded Victoria Cross, becoming at time most highly decorated British serviceman. Completed 170+ operations.
#WW2
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120
558
12 Aug 1918, Wing Cdr Guy Gibson, born in Simla, India. Led RAF 617 Squadron in Operation Chastise, Dambusters raid, for which he was awarded Victoria Cross, becoming at time most highly decorated British serviceman. Completed 170+ operations before dying in action in 1944.
#WW2
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1 July 1918, 8 tons of TNT exploded at factory in Chilwell, Notts, killing 134 people & injuring 250. Only 32 bodies were positively identified & blast heard 20 miles away. Factory returned to work next day & within a month reportedly achieved its highest weekly production.
#WW1
18
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501
19 Sept 1944, Wing Cdr Guy Gibson, died in action over Holland, aged 26. Born in India. Led RAF 617 Squadron in Operation Chastise, Dambusters raid, for which he was awarded Victoria Cross, becoming at time most highly decorated British serviceman. Completed 170+ operations.
#WW2
21
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505
23 Aug 1914, Lt Maurice Dease, Royal Fusiliers, died, aged 24. Buried St Symphorien Military Cemetery. First posthumous recipient of VC in
#WW1
. Though badly wounded he controlled fire of machine guns until all his men were shot. Died of his wounds. Born Co. Westmeath, Ireland.
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12 March 1930, William "Billy" Barker, VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Two Bars,
#WW1
fighter ace, died, aged 35, on demonstration flight. Awarded Victoria Cross for action on 27 Oct 1918 in which his legs & left arm were permanently damaged. Most decorated serviceman in history of Canada.
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7 Sept 1917, Leonard Cheshire, highly decorated RAF pilot & philanthropist, born.
#WW2
served continuously in Bomber Command. Record of 100 operational bombing missions unequalled. 1944, awarded Victoria Cross for sustained bravery. 1945, observed dropping atom bomb on Nagasaki.
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23 Apr 1861, Field Marshal Edmund Allenby born. Led Egyptian Expeditionary Force in
#WW1
Sinai & Palestine Campaign against Turks. Having captured
#Jerusalem
in Dec 1917, entered city on foot. Reputedly said, “I won’t ride my horse into the city into which my Lord rode a donkey.”
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447
18 Nov 1916, Battle of Somme ended in France. Over 5 months, British took strip of territory 10km deep by 32km long. More than 3 million men fought in battle & 1 million were casualties. First major battle for Britain’s new volunteer army, which gained invaluable experience.
#WW1
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3 Jan 1883, Clement Attlee (d.1967), Leader of Labour Party 1935-1955 & British Prime Minister 1945-1951, born. In
#WW1
served at
#Gallipoli
, Mesopotamia & France. Penultimate man to be evacuated from Suvla Bay. April 1916, badly wounded @ Battle of Hanna. Attained rank of major.
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27 Feb 1942, Bruneval Raid on German coastal radar installation in northern France, took place. Airborne assault surprised garrison. Technology extracted & captured German radar technician brought back to Britain after seaborne evacuation. Raid entirely successful.
#WW2
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8 Nov 1945, German FM August von Mackensen, died, aged 95. One of the most successful
#WW1
commanders. Defeated Russians at Brest-Litovsk & Pinsk (1915), overran Serbia (1915) & occupied Romania (1916–17). Retired 1920. In 1930s was a nationalist rather than a National Socialist.
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3 Jan 1883, Clement Attlee (d.1967), Leader of Labour Party 1935-1955 & British Prime Minister 1945-1951, born. In
#WW1
served at
#Gallipoli
, Mesopotamia & France. Penultimate man to be evacuated from Suvla Bay. April 1916, badly wounded @ Battle of Hanna. Attained rank of major.
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17 June 1898 Henry 'Harry' Patch (d.2009), last surviving combat soldier of
#WW1
from any nation to have fought in the trenches, born in Combe Down, Bath. Served as gunner in Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. 22 Sept 1917, wounded at Battle of Passchendaele. Got blighty ticket.
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27 Feb 1942, Bruneval Raid on German coastal radar installation in northern France, took place. Airborne assault surprised garrison. Technology extracted & captured German radar technician brought back to Britain after seaborne evacuation. Raid entirely successful.
#WW2
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#OTD
1943, in act of mercy, German ace Franz Stigler declined to shoot down damaged American bomber & escorted it until it left German airspace. US plane, piloted by Charlie Brown, landed safely in UK. 47 years later, two pilots met & became close friends until both died in 2008.
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3 Jan 1883, Clement Attlee (d.1967), Leader of Labour Party 1935-1955 & British Prime Minister 1945-1951, born. In
#WW1
served at
#Gallipoli
, Mesopotamia & France. Penultimate man to be evacuated from Suvla Bay. April 1916, badly wounded @ Battle of Hanna. Attained rank of major.
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353
20 Dec 1943, ace Franz Stigler declined to shoot down badly damaged B-17 bomber, escorting it until it left German airspace. B-17, piloted by Charlie Brown, on its first mission & shot up b4 it could release its bombs. 1990, 2 pilots met & became friends until both died in 2008.
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337
1 Sept 1967, Siegfried Sassoon CBE MC, poet, writer & soldier, died, aged 80. Served with Sussex Yeomanry & Royal Welch Fusiliers. 1917, invalided home. Wrote public protest against
#WW1
. Wrote war poems: The Old Huntsman (1917) & Counter-Attack (1918). 1957, became a Catholic.
7
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348
16 June 1969, Field Marshal Harold Alexander died, aged 77. In
#WW2
, served as Supreme Commander Allied Force HQ Mediterranean. Received German surrender in Italy, 29 April 1945. Possessed of personal bravery. Reputedly charming, reserved & modest. Churchill’s favourite general.
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12 Oct 1915, British nurse Edith Cavell shot. Guilty of treason for aiding 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium. Had deep Christian faith. On night b4 died, said, ‘Standing as I do in view of God & eternity .. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone'
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16 May 1943, Guy Gibson VC led 19 Lancaster bombers of 617 Squadron in Operation Chastise. Used bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis to destroy German dams in Ruhr valley industrial region, causing massive flooding and loss of life. 53 RAF aircrew killed, 3 captured.
#WW2
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330
8 Dec 1914, Royal Navy defeats German East Asia Squadron in Battle of
#FalklandIslands
in S Atlantic. British battlecruisers outgunned opponents & could outrun them. 6 of 8 German ships sunk. 1,871 killed including Vice-Adm Spee & his 2 sons. 215 captured. 10 British killed.
#WW1
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9 July 1918, Major James McCudden RAF, killed, aged 23. Aircraft crashed on take-off at Auxi-le-Château. 57 victories. 7th-highest-scoring
#WW1
ace. Buried Wavans British Cem. Words on headstone: fly on, dear boy from this dark world of strife on to promised land to eternal life.
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26 Sept 1897, Lt Arthur Rhys-Davids, DSO, MC & Bar, RFC fighter ace with some 25 victories, born. Captain of School at Eton. Sept 1917, shot down Werner Voss, who had 48 victories. 27 Oct 1917, went missing over Roeselare & not seen again. On Arras Flying Services Memorial.
#WW1
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328
4 Mar 1941, British Commandos raided Nazi-occupied Lofoten Islands in Operation Claymore. Destroyed fish oil factories & 3,600 tons of oil & glycerine & captured German code information. 18,000 tons of shipping sunk. Returned with 228 prisoners & 314 Norwegian volunteers.
#WW2
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20 Feb 1944, on Lake Tinn, Telemark, Norway, railway ferry SF Hydro, carrying last of heavy water produced at Vemork destined for German atomic weapons research program, was sunk by Norwegian resistance saboteurs. 18 people killed (14 crew, 4 Germans). 29 survived.
#WW2
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16 Aug 1888, Col T. E. Lawrence, British soldier, diplomat, writer & archaeologist, born. Known as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ for his role in Arab Revolt (1916–1918) & Sinai & Palestine Campaign (1915–1918) in
#WW1
. Studied history
@JesusOxford
. Died due to motorcycle crash in 1935.
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4 Dec 1865, Edith Cavell, nurse shot 1915 for aiding Allied troops escape Brussels & working for MI6 (?), born Norfolk vicarage. Had deep Christian faith. On night b4 died said, ‘Standing as I do in view of God & eternity .. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone'.
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12 Feb 1942, Operation Fuller, 6 slow, aged Fairey Swordfish Fleet Air Arm torpedo bombers attack German battleships Scharnhorst & Gneisenau & heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen in Channel. All shot down. Only 5 of 18 aircrew survive. Lt Cdr Esmond received posthumous Victoria Cross.
#WW2
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307
20 Dec 1943, ace Franz Stigler declined to shoot down badly damaged B-17 bomber, escorting it until it left German airspace. B-17, piloted by Charlie Brown, on its first mission & shot up b4 it could release its bombs. 1990, 2 pilots met & became friends until both died in 2008.
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303
I'm joining my prayers with people across the nation & indeed the world for Her Majesty The Queen as she rests under medical supervision at Balmoral today.
May God’s peace comfort Her Majesty, her family and those who are caring for her.
#TheQueen
#RoyalFamily
#GodsavetheQueen
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13 Dec 1887, Cpl Alvin York (d. 1964), who, in Oct 1918, almost single-handedly killed 25 German soldiers & captured 132 nr Chatel-Chéhéry, during Meuse-Argonne Offensive, born in Tennessee. Awarded Medal of Honor. Most decorated
#WW1
US soldier. After war, founded Bible school.
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1 Oct 1918, Australian Desert Mounted Corps, under Gen Sir Henry George Chauvel, captured Damascus. Hours later, Lt Col TE Lawrence, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, arrived in open-top Rolls Royce to accept surrender for Arabs, but was annoyed to find Australians had got there first.
#WW1
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27 July 1916, Cpt Charles Fryatt, executed, aged 43, by Germans for trying to ram U-boat in 1915. When his ship, SS Brussels, captured, was court-martialled & sentenced to death nr Bruges because attacked U-boat as non-combatant. 1919, body reburied with full honours in UK.
#WW1
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5 Oct 1918, Roland Garros, French
#WW1
fighter pilot, died, aged 29. On 1 Apr 1915, achieved first ever shooting-down of aircraft by firing through tractor propeller. 17 days later, shot down & became PoW. Feb 1918, escaped. Tennis stadium in Paris & French Open named after him.
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15 Feb 1942, after Japanese assault, British Lt Gen Percival, who'd been handed a posioned chalice no one could've defended, surrenders Singapore. 80,000 Indian, UK & Australian soldiers become PoWs. Churchill said "worst disaster & largest capitulation in British history”.
#WW2
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24 Mar 1976, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, died aged 88. ‘Monty’ probably most well-known British general of
#WW2
, famous for victory El Alamein in Nov 1942. Dad was a Bishop (in Tasmania 1889-1901). His Mum constantly beat him. Spent a term at my alma mater
@KingsCanterbury
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4 Aug 1917, Cpt Noel Chavasse, died of wounds, aged 32. British doctor, Olympic athlete & Army officer. One of only 3 people to be awarded VC x 2. Educated
@MCSOxford
&
@TrinityOxford
. Dad Bishop of Liverpool & his twin became Bishop of Rochester. Had deep Christian faith.
#WW1
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8 Aug 1942, after death of Lt-General Gott, Lt-General Bernard Montgomery (1887-1976) appointed C-in-C British 8th Army at Alamein. "I've cancelled plan for withdrawal. If we're attacked, then there'll be no retreat. If we cannot stay here alive, then we'll stay here dead".
#WW2
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2 Sept 1916, while flying converted BE2c night fighter, Captain Leefe Robinson, became first pilot to shoot down German airship, over Cuffley, killing 16 crew. Awarded Victoria Cross. Later became POW. This impacted his health. 31 Dec 1918, died, aged 23, of Spanish flu.
#WW1
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24 May 1941, Battle of Atlantic, German Battleship Bismarck sunk HMS Hood, killing all but 3 of 1,418 crew. Launched 1918, she was named after Rear Adm Sir Horace Hood, killed at Battle of Jutland. In inter-war years, ship was iconic figure for Royal Navy, UK & the Empire.
#WW2
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Last Thursday, I walked through ruins of French village of Oradour-sur-Glane. On 10 June 1944, it was destroyed when 643 civilians were killed by Waffen-SS unit. Women & children locked in church which was then burnt. Poignant to see crucified Christ in front of memorial plaque.
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12 Feb 1942, Lt Cdr Eugene Esmonde, died, aged 32. Posthumously awarded Victoria Cross after leading Fleet Air Arm bombers in 'Channel Dash'. Born nr. Barnsley. 1928, enlisted in RAF. 1934, joined Imperial Airways. Start of
#WW2
, returned to forces. Took part in Bismarck attack.
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273
16 June 1969, FM Harold Alexander died, aged 77. In
#WW2
, served as Supreme Commander of Allied Force HQ in Mediterranean & received German surrender in Italy, on 29 Apr 1945. Possessed of personal bravery, was reputedly charming, reserved & modest. Churchill’s favourite general.
16
48
270
27 Sept 1915, Lt John Kipling, Irish Guards, died Battle of Loos, aged 18. Son of author Rudyard, who’d pulled strings to get him commission after he’d been rejected by Navy & Army due to poor eyesight. He only acknowleged son was probably dead in June 1919 letter to War Office.
12
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268
26 Sept 1897, Lt Arthur Rhys-Davids, DSO, MC & Bar, RFC fighter ace with some 25 victories, born. Captain of School at Eton. Sept 1917, shot down Werner Voss, who had 48 victories. 27 Oct 1917, went missing over Roeselare & not seen again. On Arras Flying Services Memorial.
#WW1
6
22
261
16 Aug 1888, Col T. E. Lawrence, British soldier, diplomat, writer & archaeologist, born. Known as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ for his role in Arab Revolt (1916–1918) & Sinai & Palestine Campaign (1915–1918) in
#WW1
. Studied history
@JesusOxford
. Died due to motorcycle crash in 1935.
20
62
270
25 June 1916, Pte William Jackson, aged 18, given VC for action nr Armentières. Captured German prisoner & rescued wounded man before right arm blown off. Received tourniquet, then returned to no man's land to look for two more wounded comrades. Youngest Australian to get VC
#WW1
6
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270
18 Feb 1943, siblings Hans (aged 24) and Sophie Scholl (aged 21), core members of White Rose resistance group, arrested in Nazi Germany for distributing anti-war leaflets at University of Munich. The Scholls were Christians. They were killed by guillotine just 4 days later.
#WW2
10
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255
16 Feb 1918, Wully Robertson resigned as Chief of Imperial General Staff, disagreeing with Lloyd George over role of Supreme War Council in Versailles & CIGS in London. Only soldier in British Army history to have risen from an enlisted rank to highest rank of Field Marshal.
#WW1
13
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264
24 May 1941, Battle of Atlantic, German Battleship Bismarck sunk HMS Hood, killing all but 3 of 1,418 crew. Launched 1918, she was named after Rear Adm Sir Horace Hood, killed at Battle of Jutland. In inter-war years, ship was iconic figure for Royal Navy, UK & the Empire.
#WW2
20
30
265
11 Jan 1915, Lt Col "Paddy" Mayne, DSO & Three Bars, born in Newtownards. Capped for Ireland & British Lions at rugby union, lawyer & founding member of SAS. In
#WW2
was one of British Army's most highly decorated soldiers, yet he was not awarded the Victoria Cross. Died aged 40.
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256
12 Mar 1836, David Beatty (b. 1871), died. 1884, enlisted in Royal Navy. 1910, became youngest admiral (except for Royalty) since Nelson. In Nov 1916, replaced Jellicoe as C-in-C of British Grand Fleet. Became Admiral of Fleet on 1 May 1919 & First Sea Lord on 1 Nov 1919.
#WW1
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17 Nov 1887, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, born. ‘Monty’ probably most well-known British general of
#WW2
, famous for victory at El Alamein in Nov 1942. Dad was Bishop of Tasmania (1889-1901). Mum constantly beat him. Spent a term at my alma mater
@KingsCanterbury
. Died 1976.
22
36
252
16 May 1943, Wg Cdr Guy Gibson VC led 19 Lancaster bombers of 617 Squadron in Operation Chastise. Used bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis to destroy German dams in Ruhr valley industrial region causing massive flooding & loss of life. 53 RAF aircrew killed, 3 captured.
#WW2
7
49
254
14 Oct 1898, Thomas Holmes, born in Montreal. Private in
#WW1
Canadian Expeditionary Force. Youngest Canadian to ever win Victoria Cross. Awarded for single-handedly twice storming pillbox near Passchendaele on 26 Oct 1917, after which 19 Germans surrendered. Died 1950, aged 51.
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49
255
26 Dec 1972, Harry S Truman (b.1884), 33rd President of the United States, in office from 1945 to 1953, died. During
#WW1
, fought in France as captain in Field Artillery. His battery took part in Meuse-Argonne Offensive, once providing support for George S. Patton's tank brigade.
8
36
246
7 Sept 1917, Leonard Cheshire, highly decorated RAF pilot & philanthropist, born.
#WW2
served continuously in Bomber Command. Record of 100 operational bombing missions unequalled. 1944, awarded Victoria Cross for sustained bravery. 1945, observed dropping atom bomb on Nagasaki.
19
34
241
7 Sept 1917, Leonard Cheshire, highly decorated RAF pilot & philanthropist, born.
#WW2
served continuously in Bomber Command. Record of 100 operational bombing missions unequalled. 1944, awarded Victoria Cross for sustained bravery. 1945, observed dropping atom bomb on Nagasaki.
11
40
238
19 June 1917, due to anti-German sentiment, King George V (1865-1936) ordered British royal family to cease use of German titles & surnames & decreed that royal surname was to be changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor.
#WW1
#RoyalFamily
#OTD
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26 Sept 1887, Barnes Wallis, scientist, engineer & inventor, born. Invented Bouncing Bomb used in Operation Chastise, May 1943 Dambusters raid on Ruhr dams. Following death toll of crews involved in raid, made effort never again to endanger lives of his test pilots. Died 1979.
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241
4 July 1963, Bernard Freyberg, British-born New Zealand general, 7th Governor-General of NZ, died, aged 74. With his VC & DSO & 3 Bars, ranked among most highly decorated
#WW1
British Empire soldiers. Called ‘the Salamander’ by Churchill for ability to pass through fire unharmed.
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226
6 Dec 1917, explosion in Halifax, Canada, killed 2,000 & injured 9,000. SS Mont-Blanc, French cargo ship with high explosives, collided with Norwegian vessel SS Imo. Fire on French ship ignited cargo, causing massive explosion. Blast was largest human-made explosion at that time.
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218
1 July 1918, 8 tons of TNT exploded at factory in Chilwell, Notts, killing 134 people & injuring 250. Only 32 bodies were positively identified & blast heard 20 miles away. Factory returned to work next day & within a month reportedly achieved its highest weekly production.
#WW1
12
75
225
4 Aug 1917, Cpt Noel Chavasse, died of wounds, aged 32. British doctor, Olympic athlete & Army officer. One of only 3 people to be awarded VC x 2. Educated
@MCSOxford
&
@TrinityOxford
. Dad Bishop of Liverpool & his twin became Bishop of Rochester. Had deep Christian faith.
#WW1
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15 Nov 1907, Claus von Stauffenberg (d. 1944), born. On 20 July 1944, in Operation Valkyrie, Claus, a practising Christian, tried to assassinate Adolf Hitler, inside his Wolf's Lair Field HQ. Gestapo arrested more than 7,000 people, 4,980 of whom were executed.
#WW2
@hoyer_kat
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213
28 Jan 1943, Glyndwr Michael, homeless man, died aged 34. Body used for Operation Mincemeat to deceive Axis intelligence into expecting attack on Italy to start from Sardinia not Sicily. On 30 April, 'Maj William Martin' dumped into the sea in successful disinformation campaign.
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217
21 Apr 1918, Manfred von Richthofen, "The Red Baron", shot down, probably by Aussie AA machine gunner, & killed, aged 25, over Vaux-sur-Somme. Leading
#WW1
ace with 80 ‘kills’. 1914, served in cavalry, winning Iron Cross. May 1915, joined flying service. Brave, fearless fighter.
8
35
215
18 Feb 1943, siblings Hans (aged 24) and Sophie Scholl (aged 21), core members of White Rose resistance arrested in Nazi Germany for distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich. The Scholls were Christians. They were killed by guillotine just 4 days later.
#WW2
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218
11 May 1889, Paul Nash (d.1946), British surrealist painter, born. 2nd Lt in Hampshire Regiment in
#WW1
, was wounded & then worked as an Official War Artist. Works include powerful views of shattered landscape of No Man's Land. They rank among most memorable images of the war.
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215
1 Sept 1967, Siegfried Sassoon CBE MC, poet, writer & soldier, died, aged 80. Served with Sussex Yeomanry & Royal Welch Fusiliers. 1917, invalided home. Wrote public protest against
#WW1
. Wrote war poems: The Old Huntsman (1917) & Counter-Attack (1918). 1957, became a Catholic.
11
36
218
31 Aug 1918, Cheka agents stormed British embassy in Petrograd. Cpt Francis Cromie (b 1882), naval attaché, killed (only naval attaché to be killed in combat). 40 others arrested on suspicion of collaborating with counter-revolutionaries. British closed embassy days later.
#WW1
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