Wednesday 31 August 2016

BookRecommendation: Battle of Albuera 1811

BookRecommendation: Battle of Albuera 1811
One of the bloodiest battles of the Peninsular War.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Albuera-Bretwalda-Battles-Oliver-ebook/dp/B00D3OG74S/ref=sr_1_142?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1468316173&sr=1-142&keywords=bretwalda+books

Monday 29 August 2016

#BookRecommendation: Heroes of the RAF - No.43 Squadron

#BookRecommendation: Heroes of the RAF - No.43 Squadron

Fighting in the Air from 1916 to the 21st Century

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heroes-RAF-Squadron-Leonard-James-ebook/dp/B00550NJ5I/ref=sr_1_132?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1468316110&sr=1-132&keywords=bretwalda+books

Monday 1 August 2016

On This Day in History 7 August 1976 Viking 2 Enters Orbit around Mars

On This Day in History
7 August 1976
Viking 2 Enters Orbit around Mars

The Viking 2 mission was part of the American Viking program to Mars, and consisted of an orbiter and a lander essentially identical to that of the Viking 1 mission. The Viking 2 lander operated on the surface for 1316 days, or 1281 sols, and was turned off on April 11, 1980 when its batteries failed. The orbiter worked until July 25, 1978, returning almost 16,000 images in 706 orbits around Mars.


On This Day in History 6 August 258 Martyrdom of Pope Sixtus II

On This Day in History
6 August 258
Martyrdom of Pope Sixtus II

Pope Sixtus II (died 6 August 258) was the Pope or Bishop of Rome from 31 August 257 to his death in 258. He was martyred during the persecution by Emperor Valerian.

According to the Liber Pontificalis, he was born in Greece and was a philosopher; however, this is uncertain, and is disputed by modern western historians arguing that the authors of Liber Pontificalis confused him with that of the contemporary author Xystus, who was a Greek student of Pythagoreanism. He restored the relations with the African and Eastern churches which had been broken off by his predecessor on the question of heretical baptism raised by the heresy Novatianism.
Martyrdom of Saint Sixtus II, 14th century

In the persecutions under Valerian in 258, numerous bishops, priests, and deacons were put to death. Pope Sixtus II was one of the first victims of this persecution, being beheaded on 6 August. He was martyred along with six deacons— Januarius, Vincentius, Magnus, Stephanus, Felicissimus and Agapitus. Lawrence of Rome, his best-known deacon, suffered martyrdom on 10 August, 3 days after his bishop, as Sixtus had prophesied.


On This Day in History 5 August 1850 Birth of Guy de Maupassant

On This Day in History
5 August 1850
Birth of Guy de Maupassant

Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant (5 August 1850 – 6 July 1893) was a French writer, remembered as a master of the short story form, and as a representative of the naturalist school of writers, who depicted human lives and destinies and social forces in disillusioned and often pessimistic terms.

Maupassant was a protégé of Flaubert and his stories are characterized by economy of style and efficient, effortless dénouements (outcomes). Many are set during the Franco-Prussian War of the 1870s, describing the futility of war and the innocent civilians who, caught up in events beyond their control, are permanently changed by their experiences. He wrote some 300 short stories, six novels, three travel books, and one volume of verse. His first published story, "Boule de Suif" ("Ball of Fat", 1880), is often considered his masterpiece.


On This Day in History 4 August 1327 Battle of Stanhope Park

On This Day in History
4 August 1327
Battle of Stanhope Park

The Battle of Stanhope Park, part of the First War of Scottish Independence, took place during the night of 3–4 August 1327. The Scots under James Douglas led a raid into Weardale, and Roger Mortimer, accompanied by the newly crowned Edward III on his first campaign, led an army to drive them back. Douglas led, among other ambushes, an attack into the English camp, with 500 cavalry, and almost captured the king.

The Scots had taken up a strong defensive position by the River Wear. The position was too strong for the English to attack but they attempted to get the Scots to fight by drawing up their army on level ground and inviting the Scots to fight and by skirmishing with men-at-arms and archers. Douglas sent them the message that they would stay where they were as long as they liked. This stand-off lasted for three days. On the night of 2–3 August, the Scots decamped overnight moving a short way to a better position within Stanhope Park proper. The English shifted camp to be nearer the Scots.

On the night of 3–4 August, Douglas led a night attack on the English camp. Douglas reached Edward III's tent which was collapsed with him inside and nearly captured the English king. Several hundred English were killed. The English were forced to keep constant improved watch after this. On the night of 6–7 August, the Scottish army quietly broke camp and headed back toward Scotland. The English did not pursue.