Craig Hill Media and Consulting
United Kingdom
On this day (Australia): In 1950, Australian forces fought against communist China in the First Battle of Maryang San during the Korean War
On 3 October 1950, Australian and British forces fought against communist China as the First Battle of Maryang San began during the Korean War. In early October 1951, 3RAR (3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment), in conjunction with British Commonwealth troops, attacked a group of hills near the Imjin River. The attack was named after the … Continue reading
On This Day In Australia: In 1918, Australia House opened in London
On 3 August 1918, Australia House opened in London. Australia House is the home of Australia in the UK. This extraordinary building has been the location of the Australian High Commission for over one hundred years. It is the oldest continually-occupied diplomatic building in London and it was the first major public building of the … Continue reading
February 8, 1587 – Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded
After 19 years of imprisonment, Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in England for her complicity in a plot to murder Queen Elizabeth I. In 1542, while just six days old, Mary ascended to the Scottish throne upon the death of her father, King James V. Her mother sent her to be raised in … Continue reading
February 6, 1952 – King George VI died and Elizabeth II became queen
On February 6, 1952, after a long illness, King George VI of Great Britain and Northern Ireland died in his sleep at the royal estate at Sandringham. Princess Elizabeth, the oldest of the king’s two daughters and next in line to succeed him, was in Kenya at the time of her father’s death; she was … Continue reading
January 2, 1981 – The Yorkshire Ripper is apprehended
The so-called Yorkshire Ripper is finally caught by British police, ending one of the largest manhunts in history. For five years, investigators had pursued every lead in an effort to stop the serial killer who terrorized Northern England, but the end came out of pure happenstance. Peter Sutcliffe was spotted in a stolen car with … Continue reading
December 11, 1931 – The Statute of Westminster gives complete legislative independence to countries of the British Commonwealth
Whilst the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia came into effect on 1 January 1901, this did not mean that Australia had achieved independence from Britain. Under colonial federation approved by the United Kingdom, the six self-governing states of Australia merely allocated some functions to a federal authority. Australia was given the status of a … Continue reading
November 30, 1874 – Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister during WWII, is born
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born on 30 November 1874, at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England. He served with the British Army in India and Sudan, and became nationally known through his writings when, as a journalist, he was captured in South Africa during the Boer War. Churchill became a member of Parliament in 1900, … Continue reading
British Royal Family places Queen Elizabeth in nursing home
Concluding it was the best way to ensure she remains comfortable during her twilight years, the British Royal Family recently placed Queen Elizabeth II into a local nursing home, sources confirmed Wednesday. “Members of the Royal Family are in agreement that they simply do not have the time or resources to personally provide Her Majesty … Continue reading
Tony Blair just won’t go away
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is stubbornly refusing to let Britain move on. The grin-based organism has been asked to stop saying things in the press, which reminds Britain that it voted for him three times. Teacher Emma Bradford said: “When Kim Kardashian came along, Paris Hilton had the self-awareness to recognise that her … Continue reading
Australia most expensive country for international students
Australia has been ranked as the most expensive country for international students, but the falling Aussie dollar could spark a boom in new arrivals. Australia beat the US, Britain, Germany, Canada and Hong Kong as the most expensive destination for international students, costing an average $US38,000 ($41,500) a year in fees and living costs, according … Continue reading
December 11 1936 Edward VIII abdicates British throne
On December 11th 1936, after ruling for less than one year, Edward VIII was the first English monarch to freely abdicate the throne. He chose to abdicate after the British government, public, and the Church of England condemned his choice to marry the American divorcée Wallis Warfield Simpson. On the evening of December 11, he … Continue reading
September 25 2005 IRA officially disarms
On September 25th 2005, two months after announcing its intention to disarm, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) gave up its weapons in front of independent weapons inspectors. The decommissioning of the group’s substantial arsenal took place in secret locations in the Republic of Ireland. One Protestant and one Catholic priest as well as officials from … Continue reading
August 10 2003 Temperatures in UK top 100 F for first time during European heat wave
On August 10th 2003, the United Kingdom recorded its first-ever temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Throughout the month, an intense heat wave scorched the European continent, claiming more than 35,000 lives. August 2003 was the hottest August ever recorded in the northern hemisphere and broke all previous records for heat-related deaths. France was the worst … Continue reading
May 4 1979 Margaret Thatcher sworn in as British Prime Minister
On May 4th 1979, the Oxford-educated chemist and lawyer, Margaret Thatcher, leader of the Conservative Party, was sworn in as Britain’s first female prime minister, the day after the Conservatives won a 44-seat majority in general parliamentary elections. She was born Margaret Hilda Roberts in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, on October 13th 1925. Roberts attended Huntingtower … Continue reading
April 26 1954 Geneva Conference begins
On April 26th 1954, in an effort to resolve several problems in Asia, including the war between the French and Vietnamese nationalists in Indochina, representatives from the world’s powers met at the Geneva Conference. The conference marked a turning point in the United States’ involvement in Vietnam. The Soviet Union, the United States, France, the … Continue reading
April 5 1955 Winston Churchill Resigns As British Prime Minister
On April 5th 1955, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill retired as prime minister of Great Britain. The British leader, who guided Great Britain and the Allies through the crisis of World War II, is widely regarded as one of the greatest war time leaders of the 20th century. Remembered as a statesman and orator, Churchill … Continue reading
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