This blog is mainly concerned with British 20th Century (1900 – 1999) Military & Criminal History. Due to the nature of the subject it is sometimes necessary to cover events which fall outside this strict period of time.

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  • Bladon
    The village of Bladon, Oxfordshire, on the river Glyme, is about 6.5 miles north-west of Oxford and is notable as the burial place of Sir Winston Churchill. St Martin’s Church St Martin’s Church in Bladon is the Church of England parish church of Bladon-with-Woodstock. It is also the mother church of St Mary Magdalene at Woodstock. The first church… Continue reading Bladon
  • Donald Clarke, GC
    Donald Owen Clarke is the only Merchant Navy seaman to have been awarded the George Cross; the highest gallantry medal that can be awarded to a civilian. Donald Owen Clarke was born on 5 March 1923 in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. He lived with his parents in Osborne Road, Chester-le-Street. Despite Clarke’s home being miles from… Continue reading Donald Clarke, GC
  • ZSL War Memorial
    The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) was founded in 1826 by Sir Stamford Raffles. In 1828, London Zoo opened. At the start of the First World War in 1914, the ZSL employed about 150 male staff, 92 of whom enlisted, although 14 were rejected on medical grounds. 12 members of the ZSL’s staff were killed… Continue reading ZSL War Memorial
  • Sach and Walters
    In the period 1900 to 1964, when capital punishment ended, five women were executed at Holloway Prison in London. In chronological order the five women are Amelia Sach, Annie Walters, Edith Thompson, Styllou Christofi and Ruth Ellis. THE CASE OF EDITH THOMPSON THE CASE OF STYLLOU CHRISTOFI THE CASE OF RUTH ELLIS AMELIA SACH and… Continue reading Sach and Walters
  • Thompson – Bywaters
    The Thompson – Bywaters case involved the murder of Percy Thompson by Edith Thompson and Frederick Bywaters. The dead man’s widow Edith Thompson was found guilty of murder by the common law legal doctrine of “Common Purpose”; where someone who incites and encourages the murder of a person is just as guilty as the person… Continue reading Thompson – Bywaters
  • Wladyslaw Sikorski
    On 4 July 1943, at 11.07pm, Consolidated B-24C Liberator Mk II aircraft, registration AL523 (511 Squadron), took off from Gibraltar airport on a journey to the UK. The weather was fine, light wind, no cloud, visibility 10 miles. The aircraft climbed to about 150 feet in a perfectly normal manner. The aircraft then gradually lost… Continue reading Wladyslaw Sikorski
  • Victor John Terry
    John Henry Pull, the son of Albert Edward (a plumber’s mate) and Eliza Pull, was born on 25 June 1899 at Arundel, Sussex. After working as a postman, he joined Lloyds Bank, Durrington, Worthing as a security guard. Victor John Terry was the son of Alfred (painter and decorator) and Matilda Terry. He hated discipline… Continue reading Victor John Terry
  • U.S. Executions in UK
    A total of 18 American servicemen were convicted, sentenced and executed by American courts martial in the UK during World War Two. A great deal of information about the American court martial system, including Board of Review findings, example cases and legal texts can be found as part of the United States Military Legal Resources… Continue reading U.S. Executions in UK
  • Australian Executed WWI
    Over 300 UK soldiers, 25 Canadian and 5 New Zealand soldiers were sentenced to death and executed by courts-martial during the First World War. While Australian citizens serving in the Australian Army were sentenced to death, they all had their death sentences commuted. However, there were two Australians serving in the New Zealand Army and… Continue reading Australian Executed WWI

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