2 Apr 1916, an explosion at a gunpowder mill at Uplees, Faversham. 200 tons of TNT detonated after empty sacks caught fire. 115 deaths, including all Works Fire Brigade. Corpses were buried in mass graves at the local cemetery. One of the worst explosions in the history of the UK explosives industry.
Saturday, 2 April 2022
Wednesday, 30 March 2022
British flying ace, Lt Alan Jerrard
30 Mar 1918, British flying ace, Lt Alan Jerrard, engaged in heroic combat, then shot down & taken captive in Italy. His Sopwith Camel had 163 bullet holes! Awarded Victoria Cross. Educated at oundle school & unibirmingham. Enlisted S Staffordshire Regt then into RFC. Died 1968.
Labels:
United Kingdom
WW1 Hospital Ship
30 Mar 1917, WW1 Hospital Ship, The Gloucester Castle, torpedoed on the route from Havre to Southampton. 399 patients, including 300 cot cases, onboard. All were saved by other ships, but 3 died during transfer. The ship was eventually towed into port. Sunk in South Atlantic by Germans in 1942.
Tuesday, 29 March 2022
Arthur Zimmermann, German State Secretary of Foreign Affairs
29 Mar 1917, Arthur Zimmermann, German State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, admitted in Reichstag that his telegram to ambassador von Eckardt was genuine & it was the nation’s intention to propose an alliance with Mexico against the US. A key factor in the US declaring war on 6 April.
Labels:
Germany
Liverpool to Sierra Leone, SS Falaba was torpedoed & sunk by U-28, 38 miles off the Welsh coast.
28 Mar 1915, on way from Liverpool to Sierra Leone, SS Falaba was torpedoed & sunk by U-28, 38 miles off the Welsh coast. 104 of 242 on board died, including US citizen Leon Thrasher. The event is sometimes known as the ‘Thrasher incident’. Cargo included 13 tons of cartridges & gun cotton.
Brig-Gen Harry Fulton
29 Mar 1918, Brig-Gen Harry Fulton CMG DSO, Commander NewZealand Rifle Brigade, died of wounds, aged 48. Buried Doullens Military Cemetery. Born India. The family emigrated to NZ. 1892, enlisted in British Army. Fought in 2nd Boer War & in WW1 in German Samoa, N Africa & Flanders.
Labels:
New Zealand
Boris Becker - Famous German Tennis Star
Boris Becker is accused of failing to hand over 9 trophies, including 2 of his 3 Wimbledon singles titles, an Olympic gold medal, his 1991 and 1996 Australian Open trophies, and his Davis Cup trophy and a gold coin. Becker was trying to shore up assets by selling the silverware.
Labels:
Germany
Sunday, 27 March 2022
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