One of those great moments occurred today in 1853. Oliver Cromwell. East Anglian squire, Puritan and military whizz-kid expelled the boring, pocket lining, selfish b******s who formed the 'Rump' parliament with the famous words 'Do you mean to sit 'til Doomsday come?' Once they were out, he locked the door, put the key in his pocket and walked away. How cool is that?
And where is Oliver Cromwell today?
In other news ...
Today in 1770 James Cook on board The Endeavour (named after his favourite television cop, Morse) discovered New Zealand. The natives immediately leapt about, sticking their tongues out at him and thrashing his crew at Rugby. The final score was: All Blacks 316, Captain Cook's Fifteen 3.
So disappointed was Cook that he sailed away to find the most boring land in the world - Australia.
Showing posts with label rugby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rugby. Show all posts
Friday, 20 April 2012
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
28th March
One of the biggest b*****s in British history died today in 1868. He was James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan and he is famous for leading the Charge of the Light Brigade down the wrong valley at Balaclava during the Crimean War. He was arrogant, impetuous and deeply stupid, buying his way through the cavalry ranks with his enormous private income. His men quite liked him; to them he was Jim the Bear because he growled a lot. His officers detested him however and he made their lives hell just because he could. he should never have been given a regiment to command, still less a cavalry brigade.
Ironically, he died from a fall from his horse.
In other news ...
the British Navy sank 7 Italian warships on this day in 1941 at the battle of Matapan, off Crete. The British suffered no losses and the battle is commemorated every year during the Six Nations Rugby competition when there is always a similar scoreline between Fortress Twickenham and the Azzurri.
Ironically, he died from a fall from his horse.
In other news ...
the British Navy sank 7 Italian warships on this day in 1941 at the battle of Matapan, off Crete. The British suffered no losses and the battle is commemorated every year during the Six Nations Rugby competition when there is always a similar scoreline between Fortress Twickenham and the Azzurri.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
22nd March
Anthony van Dyck was born today in 1599. Famous for his court portraits of Charles I. He later went on the star in his father's long-running TV series Diagnosis Murder.
In other news ...
Today in 1906 the first international rugby match took place with England beating France 35-0. The England team had already scored pretty heavily at Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt, Ramillies, Malplaquet, Sahagun, Badajoz, Toulouse and Waterloo. An earlier result at Hastings, where the French unaccountably won, was deemed to be because they played with the roof open.
In other news ...
Today in 1906 the first international rugby match took place with England beating France 35-0. The England team had already scored pretty heavily at Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt, Ramillies, Malplaquet, Sahagun, Badajoz, Toulouse and Waterloo. An earlier result at Hastings, where the French unaccountably won, was deemed to be because they played with the roof open.
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