British History

On this day in history….25th August 1804

On this day in history : 25th August 1804 – Alicia Thornton rides her horse, Vinigrillo, over a four mile race at York Racecourse to become the first known female jockey….

Even though she rode side-saddle Alicia was an accomplished horsewoman; she was known for her skills and frequently rode with the hounds….

Not a great deal is known about her early life; her maiden name was Maynel and she was the wife (or possibly mistress) of Colonel Thomas Thornton – who was keen on horses, sport and gambling….

Alicia challenged her brother-in-law, Captain Flint, to a horse race…. Thornton, sensing a good bit of sport, offered her his racehorse, Vinigrillo and placed a bet on her to win….

The race took place at what is now York racecourse, in front of a crowd of what is believed to be around 100,000 – and was for a prize of 500 guineas…. Although Alicia’s horse led for the first three miles she eventually lost the race to Flint…. However, she won the hearts of the crowd for her pluck, attire and demeanour…. Thornton earned himself a horse whipping from Flint as he refused to honour the bet….

The following year, at the same York meeting, Alicia rode against Frank Buckle, known to British horse racing followers of the time as ‘The Governor’…. He was legendary; this time Alicia won….

In 1806 she ran off with a soldier….

On this day in history….24th August 1814

On this day in history : 24th August 1814 – British troops capture Washington DC and set fire to the White House, in retaliation for the American attack on York, Ontario, Canada in June 1813….

The Burning of Washington – an illustration from the 1816 book ‘The History of England, from the Earliest Periods, Vol.1’ – by Paul M Rapin de Thoyras – Public domain

The British had taken their time in planning their revenge attack on America….whose troops during the Canadian attack had burned down government buildings…. Washington was chosen as it was easily accessible from the sea, had a weak defence and was symbolic in its importance….

An initial battle took place between the British and American troops outside of Washington – known as the Battle of Bladensburg, the Americans were easily defeated – and the British advanced on Washington….

President James Madison had been aware of the impending British invasion…. He had attended the Battle of Bladensburg, leaving his wife, Dolley, to pack up important papers and items of value at the White House, which was then known as the Presidential Mansion…. She had been warned to be ready to flee at a moments notice…. By the time the British arrived the President and his wife were on their way to Maryland….

The British troops began setting fire to buildings in the capital, including the Library of Congress and other local landmarks…. On arriving at the White House the British soldiers had the cheek of sitting down to finish off a meal that had been abandoned in the occupants’ haste to get away – (waste not, want not!)…. Once the British had satisfied their appetites they set the building ablaze…. But the one thing they had not accounted for was the weather….

The following day a tremendous thunderstorm hit the area…. The accompanying winds were so strong that roofs were torn from houses….and so torrential was the rain that it doused out the fires that had been raging in the city…. The storm lasted for a good two hours and at least two British soldiers were killed….

The British withdrew from Washington that very night…. The Americans were able to return to their capital to see what damage and destruction had been done….

The White House and the city were rebuilt – with Thomas Jefferson donating his collection of books to restock the Library of Congress….

British History

On this day in history….23rd August 1305

On this day in history : 23rd August 1305 – Sir William Wallace, Scottish patriot, is hanged, drawn, beheaded and quartered in London….

After the English had been defeated at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 Wallace was appointed Guardian of Scotland and remained so until his defeat in the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298….

In 1305 he was captured and handed over to King Edward I and brought to trial on the charge of treason – to which he responded “I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject”….

Wallace’s trial in Westminster Hall – by Daniel Maclise – Public domain

Following the trial Wallace was taken to the Tower of London…. Here he was stripped naked and then dragged through the streets of the city behind a horse….to the Elms at Smithfield…. He was hanged, drawn and quartered…. He was also emasculated and eviscerated – his private parts and bowels burned before him…. Wallace was then beheaded and his body cut into four parts…. His head, dipped in tar to preserve it, was displayed on a pike on top of London Bridge…. His limbs were sent to Perth, Stirling, Newcastle and Berwick to be displayed separately….

British History

On this day in history….22nd August 1925

On this day in history : 22nd August 1925 – The birth of actress Honor Blackman – probably best known for her role as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger and as Cathy Gale in The Avengers….

Honor in January 2000 – Image credit : Rob Young via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

Honor was born in Plaistow, East London and was one of the four children of Frederick and Edith Blackman…. Her father, a civil service statistician, believed his strong Cockney accent had held him back in his career and he was determined to give his children the best opportunities in life that he could…. For her 15th birthday Honor was given elocution lessons by her parents…. This might not sound the most exciting of presents for a 15 year old girl – but it was Honor’s choice – she was offered either the lessons or a bicycle…. She chose wisely….

Following her lessons Honor was admitted to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama…. She graduated and landed the role of understudy in the West End play The Guinea Pig – and then in 1947 she appeared at the Apollo Theatre in The Blind Goddess….

Her film debut came in 1947 – a non-speaking part in Fame is the Spur…. She then went on to roles in films such as A Night to Remember, 1958, The Square Peg, 1958 and Jason and the Argonauts, 1963….

Honor as the goddess Hera in ‘Jason and the Argonauts’ – Public domain

Honor joined The Avengers in the first episode of the second series in 1962…. She played the part of Dr Cathy Gale alongside Patrick Macnee as John Steel…. Her character is remembered for her quick wit, her skill in judo and her love of tight fitting leather clothing….

Honor’s success in the series led her to be cast as Bond girl Pussy Galore in Goldfinger in 1964, opposite Sean Connery…. She was one of the oldest Bond girls to be cast, five years older than Connery – but according to public polls was perhaps the most popular….

Honor’s theatre career continued and she became a familiar face on television in the 1990s sitcom The Upper Hand – which ran for 96 episodes….

In 1999 she portrayed Joy Adamson in the film To Walk with Lions and in 2001 appeared in Bridget Jones’ Diary’…. In her late eighties she toured in her one woman show Honor Blackman as Herself….

Honor married twice; firstly to Bill Sankey in 1948 only to divorce in 1956…. Then in 1961 he married British actor Maurice Kaufmann and they adopted two children…. This marriage ended in 1975 and Honor did not remarry again, saying she preferred to be single…. She died at her home in Lewes, East Sussex on the 5th of April 2020, aged 94….

British History

On this day in history….21st August 1914

On this day in history : 21st August 1914 – Private John Parr becomes the first British soldier to be shot and killed during World War One….

The grave of Private John Parr, Saint Symphorien Military Cemetery – Image credit : http://www.smg-authie.co.uk/graphics/photos/cwgc_sz/st_symph_06.jpg – CC BY-SA 2.5

Parr had joined the 4th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in 1912, after lying about his age; he claimed to be the required age of 18 whereas in truth he was only 14…. He was trained to be a reconnaissance cyclist – a scout riding ahead of the marching battalion on a bicycle to check the way ahead for enemy activity….

In August 1914 the 4th Middlesex was one of the first British Army units to be mobilised and sent to Northern France…. 1,100 men left Southampton destined for Boulogne-sur-Mer – just as the Germans were advancing into Belgium….

On the 21st of August Private Parr and another cyclist were despatched to the village of Obourg, just over the border into Belgium…. Their mission was to pinpoint the exact location of the German troops…. Nobody knows for sure exactly what happened next…. It is believed that Parr and his companion came across a German patrol engaged in a similar task to that of their own…. Whilst his companion returned to report to the commanding officer of the Middlesex Regiment Parr remained behind to try and head off the enemy patrol…. It was thought he died in an exchange of rifle fire with the Germans….

However, later research carried out in 2014 unearthed the possibility that Parr was actually killed by friendly fire…. Whatever the circumstances, British troops almost immediately retreated from the area and Parr’s body was left behind…. His grave was later found in a battle graveyard, where he was most likely buried by the Germans…. He now lies in St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, south east of Mons – in a grave that faces that of George Edwin Ellison, thought to be the last British soldier to be killed in World War One…. The age on Parr’s headstone reads as ‘20’ – not the 17 he really was….