Scott Allsop's Blog, page 242

25th September 1956: Inauguration TAT-1, the first transatlantic telephone cable

The world’s first submarine transatlantic telephone cable system was inaugurated. Known as Transatlantic No. 1 or TAT-1, the £120 million system actually consisted of two identical cables to allow transmission in each direction. Prompted by...

24th September 1946: ‘Containment’ first suggested in a US report

On the 24th September 1946, Clark Clifford and George Elsey presented a report to President Truman in which they recommended “restraining and confining” Soviet influence. The report helped to shape Truman’s decision to follow a...

23rd September 1338: First naval battle with artillery takes place in the Hundred Years’ War

The first recorded naval battle featuring artillery took place in the first naval engagement of the Hundred Years’ War. The Battle of Arnemuiden saw five slow but stable single-masted English cogs face 48 galleys of...

22nd September 1980: Iraq-Iran war begins

On the 22nd September 1980, the longest conventional war of the 20th Century began when Iraq launched an invasion of Iran. The Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, dubbed it the ‘Whirlwind War’ in which he expected...

21st September 1915: Cecil Chubb, Stonehenge’s last private owner, wins it at auction

Cecil Chubb became the last private owner of Stonehenge, having bought the Neolithic monument at auction. Chubb grew up four miles away from the famous stones in the English village of Shrewton, where his father...

20th September 1066: Harald Hardrada wins Battle of Fulford

On the 20th September 1066, Harald Hardrada – the Viking king – defeated his northern English enemies at the Battle of Fulford. The defeat of Harold Godwinson’s northern earls was disastrous for the new English...

19th September 1879: The Blackpool Illuminations turned on for the first time

The Illuminations at the British seaside resort of Blackpool were turned on for the first time. The Illuminations, which continue to be an annual light festival, have grown considerably since their inception. Now stretching for...

18th September 1931: Manchurian Crisis begins after Japanese bomb

On the 18th September 1931, the Manchurian Crisis – also known as the Mukden Incident –began when Japanese soldiers blew up a section of their own railway in the Chinese region of Manchuria. Although it...

17th September 1859: Joshua Norton declares himself Norton I, Emperor of the United States

Norton had moved to San Francisco from South Africa sometime around the end of 1849 and, within three years, had amassed a significant fortune as a result of shrewd real estate investments and various commodities...

16th September 1978: Filming begins on Monty Python’s Life of Brian

On the 16th September 1978, filming began on Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Seen by some as the greatest comedy film of all time, the film has courted controversy since its release due to its...