by David West | Jun 18, 2026 | News
On the 18th of June, 1940, Winston Churchill delivered his “Finest Hour” speech in the House of Commons. It came at a moment when the fate of Britain appeared extremely uncertain. Europe had largely fallen under the control of Adolf Hitler, and Britain faced the...
by David West | Jun 17, 2026 | News
On the 17th of June, forces of the Eight-Nation Alliance captured the Taku Forts in Tianjin, China, during the Boxer Rebellion. The Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901), also known as the Boxer Uprising, was a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian movement that took place in...
by David West | Jun 16, 2026 | News
On the 16th of June, 1940, Henri Philippe Pétain became chief of state of Vichy France. Henri Philippe Pétain was one of the most controversial figures in modern French history. Revered as a national hero after the First World War, he later became the leader of the...
by David West | Jun 15, 2026 | News
On the 15th of June, 1977, the first democratic elections took place in Spain following the death of Francisco Franco in 1975. One may wonder why it took so long for elections to be held. The spectre of the civil war haunted Spain. Francoists on the far right held...
by David West | Jun 14, 2026 | News
On the 14th of June, 1381, King Richard II met leaders of the Peasants’ Revolt at Mile End, and the Tower of London was stormed by rebels without resistance. This has caught my eye this morning as it has a connection to my work in progress, Cade’s Point, the sixth...
