History

The phrase “shiver my timbers” first appeared in a book by Captain Frederick Marryat published in 1834. Since then, it’s appeared in numerous books and films.

Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it is the oldest such commemoration.

In 1932, the Australian army started an offensive against a horde of itinerant emus. The Australian Emu War would be chalked down as a victory for the emus.

Ulrich von Liechtenstein was made famous by Heath Ledger in the film A Knight’s Tale. Did you know he was a real person? His real life exploits were arguably more outrageous than those portrayed by Hollywood.

In Indian mythology, the god Indra rescues the world by killing an evil serpent with a thunderbolt. In Norse mythology, Thor famously slays the serpent Jörmungandr with thunder. This similarity is one tantalizing clue to the fact that the mythologies and languages of Europe and India share a common source—a lost culture about which we know little, but owe much.

17th century plague doctor’s outfit included bird-like mask… eery but effective

Mad Jack Churchill was the only soldier during World War Two credited with dispatching an enemy with a longbow. If his longbow wasn’t handy Mad Jack was just as comfortable with a Scottish broadsword.

Ivar the Boneless is a legendary figure from the Norse sagas, apparently inspired by a real Viking who led a brutal army into England in 865 AD.

When his country needed him Bob Semple stepped forward. Some wished he hadn’t bothered. Fearing Japanese invasion, New Zealand desperately needed to boost an armoured force which only numbered 6 Bren gun carriers in the whole country. The Bob Semple Tank was born.

In an era before the invention of aspirin, painkillers and sleeping tablets, to be in pain was a thoroughly unpleasant experience. Laudanum’s medical role, as a tool for pain management in sickness and end-of-life care, was crucial.