Our Curious Past

If you'd been in the UK fishing town of Grimsby, in February 1923, you'd have sensed the sadness in the streets. The Sargon fishing trawler was 'much overdue' and was 'presumed lost with all hands.'

Friends and family were left devastated, and mystified...what happened to the ship? In time, a gripping and shocking story would be pieced together. It was a voyage that would surprise everybody.

I'm Peter Laws and tonight we take to the sea to explore Our Curious Past as we become “Trapped in the Ice with The Astonishing Sea Voyage of The Sargon”

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Explore 'Our Curious Past' and the mysterious case of Ze Ahigo. Known as a 'country bumpkin', he couldn't read or write...yet he performed operations on thousands of Brazilians without any medical training. He even used a rusty knife, but his patients praised him as a great medical man.

How was he so successful? The answer, he claimed, was that he was the channel for a German Army doctor called Dr Adolph Fritz. Learn about this fascinating and bizarre story of so called 'Spirit Surgery' in this episode of 'Our Curious Past'...the story of 'Ze Ahigo and Dr Fritz: The Mysterious The Spirit Surgeons of Brazil'.

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This is the second and final part of a two part episode...

For centuries, life in in the French village of Oradour-sur-Glane was happy and peaceful. Until June 10th, 1944 when the Nazi SS invaded. The trucks rolled in on a sunny, Saturday afternoon, and by that evening, every building in the village would be destroyed. Yet far worse...642 men, woman and children were dead.

It is the worst Nazi war crime to ever take place on French soil, yet many outside of France are not aware of what happened. In this special two part episode, we'll walk through the events of that day, step-by-step. And we'll also explore the subsequent trial, asking...why did SS officers choose this ordinary village for such an atrocity? And why do some people even today, deny the event ever even happened?

Warning: this episode contains details of a Nazi war crime that listeners may find difficult to hear.

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For centuries, life in in the French village of Oradour-sur-Glane was happy and peaceful. Until June 10th, 1944 when the Nazi SS invaded. The trucks rolled in on a sunny, Saturday afternoon, and by that evening, every building in the village would be destroyed. Yet far worse...642 men, woman and children were dead.

It is the worst Nazi war crime to ever take place on French soil, yet many outside of France are not aware of what happened. In this special two part episode, we'll walk through the events of that day, step-by-step. And we'll also explore the subsequent trial, asking...why did SS officers choose this ordinary village for such an atrocity? And why do some people even today, deny the event ever even happened?

Warning: this episode contains details of a Nazi war crime that listeners may find difficult to hear.

-Help support our show through Patreon: patreon.com/peterlaws

-Find us on all podcasting platforms: https://link.chtbl.com/HHE

-Check out our other podcasts: itsarclightmedia.com

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Locana, Italy, 1877.

Maria Mezzanrosa had a perfectly normal pregnancy and labour...until the midwife screamed at the birth. Her babies were joined from the sixth rib down. They had two full heads and necks, two pairs of arms, but only one shared set of legs. Her husband Giovanni Tocci fainted in shock, but it didn't take him long to see a blessing, instead of a curse. After a mere four weeks later he was taking the tiny boys to Turin to exhibit them for money.

Regardless of the ethics, his business sense was spot on...the brothers were a sensation - and it led to 20 years of relentless touring throughout Europe and across America. It made the family rich.

Observers said the boys were surprisingly happy with their lot...but were they, really?

Join me for an emotional journey, exploring disability, difference, 19th century side shows and cultural change. Because I'm Peter Laws, and today on Hometown History we explore the remarkable life of The Conjoined Tocci Twins, of Locana, Italy.

NOTE: Today's episode explores the fascinating live of two boys with a shared disability. They lived in the 19th century to 20th and so some of the language used at the time may be offensive.

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Kelvedon Hatch, UK (Part Two)

Surrounded by fields and woodland, it looks like an average, brick bungalow. It isn't. Just a few steps through the doors reveals a huge tunnel leading to an amazing labyrinth of rooms, deep under the hillside.

This is Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker. Built in secrecy and strict military security, you will join Peter Laws as he tours the bunker.

In this special two part episode, explore the twilight world of the cold war and learn how Britain tried to prepare for nuclear war. This episode also features input from author and nuclear historian, Taras Young.

NOTE: This episode contains details about nuclear war that some listeners may find disturbing.

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Kelvedon Hatch, UK (Part One)

Surrounded by fields and woodland, it looks like an average, brick bungalow. It isn't. Just a few steps through the doors reveals a huge tunnel leading to an amazing labyrinth of rooms, deep under the hillside.

This is Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker. Built in secrecy and strict military security, you will join Peter Laws as he tours the bunker.

In this special two part episode, explore the twilight world of the cold war and learn how Britain tried to prepare for nuclear war. This episode also features input from author and nuclear historian, Taras Young.

NOTE: This episode contains details about nuclear war that some listeners may find disturbing.

-Help support our show through Patreon: patreon.com/peterlaws

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Istanbul (formerly Constantinople).

Sports fans are passionate, but this energy can sometimes lead to conflict or even all-out violence. This happened on a truly horrific scale in Constantinople, on Tuesday, January 13th, 532 C.E.

The sport was Chariot Racing, and while the fans of the opposing Greens and Blues had clashed before, this revolt was different. After a botched public execution, the fans joined forces against the Emperor Justinian, and the city exploded into chaos.

Five days later, Constantinople would be a burning ruin, and ten percent of the population would be dead in the streets. The events of that day almost brought down the emperor - but what really lead to to riot, and how did a sports crowd almost destroy an Empire?

I'm Peter Laws. Join me and Medieval Historian Eleanour Janega as we explore The Deadliest Sports Event, Ever...

The Nika Riots.

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San Gioavanni Rotondo, Italy

Millions flock to the Italian town of San Gioavanni Rotondo each year. They come for two reasons.

Firstly, it's home to the most efficient and advanced medical research hospital in Europe. Yet it's also a magnet for Catholic pilgrims. They come to see the body of Padre Pio who lived and died here, in 1968. This famous Saint who was known for having stigmata - where believers develop spontaneous marks on their bodies, to reflect the wounds of Jesus on the cross.

It is a town of science and faith - and yet the two are not mutually exclusive here...you see, Padre Pio founded, and funded this cutting edge hospital.

Today on Hometown History: Europe we explore the strange and complex life Padre Pio...Priest of the Supernatural

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Cardington, England.

On Saturday, October 4th, 1930 the R101 Airship, set off from Cardington England on it's first ever passenger flight. Hopes were high that this craft would help change the face of global travel.

Yet the following morning, this majestic and epic ship would be a smouldering wreck, strewn across a field in France, killing 48 men.

It was a disaster that would put an end to airship production in the UK, but what led to the crash, and could it have been avoided?

Today on Hometown Histories: Europe, we take to the skies for The Hopeful Rise (and the Tragic Fall) of the R101 Airship.

Includes an interview with Airship historian, David Fowler.

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