The BackTracker History Show

The BackTracker History Show

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The BackTracker History Show episodes

  • Ep30: The Godmother of Egyptology - Amelia Blanford Edwards

    An American newspaper called her in 1889 "the most learned woman in the world" for her dexterity in writing, research, and public speaking. In England today she is called the god-mother of Egyptology, for her dedication to the Egypt Exploration Society, which she founded. Amelia Blanford Edwards is the British writer and explorer who promoted the protection and preservation of ancient Egyptian sites.


    THIS PODCAST

    This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment.

    So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

    Sound Effects by zapsplat.com


    CONTACT ME…

    Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

    Instagram: @backtrackeruk

    Twitter: @BackTrackerUK


    SOURCES

    Globe - Monday 28 March 1864

    Western Daily Press - Monday 18 April 1892

    Edwards, Amelia B. "My Home Life," Arena Magazine, 4 (Boston, 1891), 299-310.

    "Gaston Maspero and the birth of the Egypt Exploration Fund (1881- 83), Margaret Drower, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 68, 1982.

    Flinders Petrie: A Life in Archaeology, Madison, 1995.

    27 min
  • Ep29. Bristol's Home Guard

    The Home Guard were volunteers who defended the five thousand miles of Britain coastline in the event of an invasion by Germany. They were originally called the Local Defence Volunteers.

    On Friday 10 May 1940, the Germans had started their attack on Belgium and the Netherlands using soldiers dropped by parachutes. British troops in mainland Europe were pushed back to the Channel ports. Many people feared that the Germans would soon invade Britain.
    To protect Britain, a new part time force was to be set up, the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV).
    On the evening of Tuesday 14 May 1940, the Government made an urgent appeal on the radio to all men aged between 17 and 65. The wanted all men not already serving in the armed forces to become part-time soldiers. Within 24 hours of the radio broadcast a quarter of a million men had volunteered. By the end of July this number had risen to over a million.
    Listen to some of the tales of the men and women who served to protect the Home Front.

    THIS PODCAST

    This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment.

    So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

    CONTACT ME…

    Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

    Instagram: @backtrackeruk

    Twitter: @BackTrackerUK


    SOURCES

    Western Daily Press - Monday 22 September 1941

    Find-a-Grave

    Daily Mirror - Monday 22 September 1941

    BBC Peaople’s War https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/

    Western Daily Press - Friday 23 October 1942

    Western Daily Press - Thursday 09 November 1944

    26 min
  • Ep28. Pirate Calico Jack

    Avast there me hearties. International Talk like a pirate day is upon us once more so batten down yer hatches and park your broadside down as we take on, not one but three scurvy pirate sea dogs. Listen to this treat for your lug holes while I gets me some grog.

    John Rackham, also known as “Calico Jack,”  was not one of the more successful pirates, and most of his victims were fishermen and lightly armed traders. He was an English pirate famous for two reasons: his design of the famous Jolly Roger flag (a skull with two crossed swords), and for having two female pirates, Mary Read and Anne Bonny, in his crew.

    Find out all about his escapades as well as his fate.


    THIS PODCAST

    This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment.

    So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.


    CONTACT ME…

    Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

    Instagram: @backtrackeruk

    Twitter: @BackTrackerUK


    SOURCES

    Jamaica Court Archives

    Thought. Co  https://www.thoughtco.com/biography-of-john-calico-jack-rackham-2136377

    The Sphere - Saturday 12 January 1935

    Lichfield Mercury - Friday 08 October 1915

    Famous Highwaymen, Pirates and Robbers By Charles Johnson

    "A General History of the Pyrates.” By Daniel Defoe. Edited by Manuel Schonhorn. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1972/1999.

    A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates, published in 1724- Charles Johnson

    www.talklikeapirate.com

    28 min
  • Ep27. Circus Killer

    He was a charismatic, attractive young man who was one of the lead performers in a travelling circus but his greed would lead him to the gallows.

    Charles Samuel Bartlett was accused of murdering his mother-in-law Mary Lewis in Stapleton, Bristol on 10 September 1836. He shot her in Lippiatts Lane with a pistol at close range in order to recieve her inheritance. But he wasn't going down without a fight!

    Hear the extraordinary story of how this man's arrogance led him to the gallows, causing pain to all who knew him.


    THIS PODCAST

    This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment.

    So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.


    CONTACT ME…

    Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

    Instagram: @backtrackeruk

    Twitter: @BackTrackerUK


    SOURCES

    The Chronicles of Crime: Or The New Newgate Calendar. Being a ..., Volume 2 By Camden Pelham

    Bristol Mercury - Saturday 08 April 1837 (includes picture of Charles Bartlett - very long article with full court events)

    Sherborne Mercury - Monday 10 April 1837

    Worcester Journal - Thursday 13 April 1837

    Leamington Spa Courier - Saturday 22 April 1837

    https://www.exclassics.com/newgate/ng885.htm

    31 min
  • Ep26. Clifton Suspension Bridge

    The world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge was designed by the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, although he never lived to see his creation finished in 1864.

    The Clifton Suspension Bridge’s spectacular setting on the cliffs of the Avon Gorge has made it the defining icon of Bristol, drawing thousands of visitors a year just to stroll across for views of the ancient Avon Gorge, elegant Clifton and the magnificent city beyond.

    As with anything that has stood the test of time, the bridge comes with many a tale. From Murder attempts to deathly daring, this bridge has seen it all.

    In this episode, you'll hear only a few of the many stories linked with this amazing structure, and they'll be brought to life by the amazing vocal talents of Marcus KP and Sandra Hobson from Bradley Stoke Radio as well as Tony Allen, a listener from Worcester. And, of course, a special thank you to all those volunteers at B.O.B. Go to https://www.brunelsotherbridge.org.uk/bob_join.html to see how you can support all the hard work that's going into restoring the bridge.


    THIS PODCAST

    This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment.

    So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.


    CONTACT ME…

    • Facebook: @BackTrackerUK
    • Instagram: @backtrackeruk
    • Twitter: @BackTrackerUK


      • SOURCES

      Western Daily Press - Thursday 29 September 1870 (Safety advice from Vigilant)

      Gloucestershire Echo - Saturday 09 May 1885 (Sarah Ann Henley)

      Yorkshire Gazette - Saturday 19 September 1896 (Two girls)

      Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust.

      Luton Reporter - Friday 25 September 1896

      Kirkintilloch Herald - Wednesday 23 September 1896

      Western Daily Press - Wednesday 21 October 1936

      Western Daily Press - Tuesday 17 November 1936

      Brunel's Other Bridge - https://www.brunelsotherbridge.org.uk

      Probably the worst thing you can hear when you’re wearing a bikini is “Good for you!”

      36 min
    • Ep25. The Chartist Movement

      On 27 July 1877, John Frost - Chartist leader and the man who, more than anyone else, reflected the desire of the Welsh working classes to obtain universal manhood suffrage - died quietly at his home in Bristol. It had been a wild, troubled and often dangerous life.

      Establishing himself as a prominent Chartist, he was elected in 1835 as a town councillor  for Newport and appointed as a magistrate. He also became an Improvement Commissioner & Poor Law Guardian and the following year became Mayor of Newport but his strong political leanings meant that he had to stand down.

      On 3–4 November 1839 John Frost, together with William Jones and Zephaniah Williams, led a Chartist march on the Westgate Inn in Newport. What happened next was a mixture of bad luck and unfortunate timing which led to the biggest change in John Frost's life, but not his determination to help others.


      THIS PODCAST

      This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment.

      So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.


      CONTACT ME…

      Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

      Instagram: @backtrackeruk

      Twitter: @BackTrackerUK


      SOURCES

      The Charter- 10 March 1839

      The Chartist Movement by Mark Hovell, M.A (2nd Lieutenant, The Sherwood Foresters, and lecturer in Military History in the University) 1918

      Monmouthshire Merlin 21st March 1840

      The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian Glamorgan Monmouth…16th August 1856

      http://richardjohnbr.blogspot.com/2007/08/chartist-lives-john-frost.html

      https://www.peoplescollection.wales/content/john-frost-chartist-leader

      http://www.chartistancestors.co.uk/john-frost-1784-1877/

      31 min
    • Ep24. Death by Arsenic

      Over an unhonoured grave there used to be, and probably still is, the inscription: “Beneath this stone lies the mortal remains of Mary Ann Burdock, who was executed in this gaol, April 15th 1835, in her 38th year, for the wilful murder (by poison) of Clara Ann Smith of this city.”

      Prepare yourself for the true story of a woman's greed and what she'll do for wealth.


      Guest Voices.

      Samantha Vernon

      Andrea Reid


      THIS PODCAST

      This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment.

      So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.


      CONTACT ME…

      Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

      Instagram: @backtrackeruk

      Twitter: @BackTrackerUK


      SOURCE:

      Burdock, Mary "Life, Confession and Behaviour of" - Relique of Old Bristol Gaol

      Bristol Mirror - Saturday 18 April 1835

      Bristol Mirror - Saturday 02 May 1835

      Ally Sloper's Half Holiday - Saturday 22 January 1887

      http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org

      Western Daily Press - Wednesday 13 December 1933

      32 min
    • Ep23.The Severn Bridge Disaster

      57 year old Harry Phillips woke up at 4am and got ready to leave his home in Purton to start such a shift. He groaned at another hard day transporting oil and petrol on his barge, the Severn Pioneer.

      He said goodbye to his wife, telling her that he would be home by 9pm that evening as it was a shorter trip that day. His mate, George Butler, 35 was already onboard getting everything ready and making the small cabin homely for the day's work.

      But of the 8 men who formed the crews of the three oil tankers which were swept away up river from the entrance to Sharpness Harbour by the fierce running tide, only two were saved.


      THIS PODCAST

      This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment.

      So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

      CONTACT ME…

      Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

      Instagram: @backtrackeruk

      Twitter: @BackTrackerUK


      SOURCES

      Bristol Evening Post - Monday 06 February 1939

      Gloucester Citizen - Monday 06 February 1939

      Gloucester Citizen - Wednesday 08 February 1939

      https://www.friendsofpurton.org.uk

      https://www.severntales.co.uk/1939-disaster.html

      Credit

      zapsplat.com

      32 min
    • Ep22. The Cornish Shooting

      PODCAST EXCLUSIVE! Lostwithiel is a historical gem within the county, being a planted town and former capital of the Earls of Cornwall. 

      In 1814, a soldier named John Sims and some of his fellow soldiers, were attached to the  baggage train of the 28th Regiment. They stopped at a local inn, and “became so intoxicated as to render it impossible for them to proceed”. They then tried to arrange for another cart to take them on their way, but the constable and a magistrate refused  to take the responsibility for this. What happened next would haunt the town forever.


      THIS PODCAST

      This episode is an exclusive just to say thanks to all of you who have supported this podcast . 

      If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment.

      So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.


      CONTACT ME…

      Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

      Instagram: @backtrackeruk

      Twitter: @BackTrackerUK


      SOURCES

      Lostwithiel Business Group https://www.lostwithiel.org.uk/characterisation.pdf

      Cornwall Live https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/day-policeman-shot-dead-drunk-1920942

      Bury & Norwich Post. Wednesday 7th September 1814

      The Guardian 6th August 1926

      26 min
    • Ep21. The Stranger Murder

      She was a domestic servant from Yatton in Somerset who was walking to Gloucester to meet her young man. He had recently joined the Militia and was doing training there and she was planning on moving there and finding work. A tragic story of the end of a young girl's dreams.

      The part of Lucy Derrick is played by Becky Vicker of St Stephen's Drama Group. 


      THIS PODCAST

      This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment.

      So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.


      CONTACT ME…

      Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

      Instagram: @backtrackeruk

      Twitter: @BackTrackerUK


      SOURCES

      Thornbury Museum http://www.thornburymuseum.org.uk

      Thornbury Roots http://www.thornburyroots.co.uk

      Bridport News - Friday 16 May 1879

      Cornishman - Thursday 10 April 1879

      Gloucester Journal - Saturday 03 May 1879

      29 min

    About The BackTracker History Show

    From the publisher's feed

    Based in the UK, this self confessed history geek takes you for a stroll down memory lane and shares stories and interesting nuggets of information that has been discovered along the way. From tales of tragedy and sadness to epic stories of human courage or creativity, there are many people in history who have made their mark, however small.