21 October and some facts you didn’t know about historic events on this day – or did you?
21 October The Anniversary Of Aberfan
21 October is the anniversary of the Aberfan disaster in Wales. 2016 was the 50th anniversary of the tragedy.
For those who have not heard of this tragic event, on 21 October 1966 a mountain made out of the spoil from the coal industry slid down into a school and houses in the Welsh village, killing 144 people, including 116 children. Young children and teachers died from the impact and suffocation and local people dug frantically with their bare hands trying to rescue them.
I was seven years old and I remember it clearly – even then I understood that children like me had died. You can read more about Aberfan here.
Here are some more facts you didn’t know about 21 October.
The First Crusade
1097 marks the First Crusade when the siege of Antioch began.
Strait of Magellan
In 1520 Ferdinand Magellan discovers what is now know as the Strait of Magellan. Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who led the first European voyage of discovery to circumnavigate the globe.
Liberty
In 1774, colonists in Taunton, Massachusetts, displayed the word ‘liberty’ on a flag raised in defiance of British Colonial Rule in Colonial America.
Kiss Me Hardy?
Though the battle was won, in 1805 Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson died at the Battle of Trafalgar having been wounded by enemy fire. It is said his Flag Captain, Thomas Hardy, kissed him on the forehead to say farewell. Nelson’s last words were “Now I am satisfied. Thank God, I have done my duty.” Regarding the famous ‘Kiss Me Hardy’ that Nelson is said to have spoken. At that time platonic kisses between men at times of great emotion didn’t have the connotation given to it by the current generation.
Lady With The Lamp
In 1854 Florence Nightingale and 38 nurses are sent to the Crimean War. Florence was born into a British family in Florence, Italy in 1820. Known as ‘the lady with the lamp’, her work sparked world wide healthcare reform.
For Whom the Bell Tolls
In 1940, the first edition of the Ernest Hemingway novel ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’ is published. One of my favorite Hemingway quotes is this:
“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”
If you would like to know more interesting facts about 21 October you can find them here.
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Before you go
My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.
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Thank you for reading!
Very interesting facts, Dorothy. Sometimes I wonder if the US wouldn’t have been better off remaining under British rule. 😉 Canada seems to be doing pretty well right now, after all. Also, like the Hemingway quote.
Yes I thought the quote was pretty apt!