The BackTracker History Show

Shorter Tales

Season: 6 Episode: 24

This week’s show packs a punch with three bite-sized but gripping tales – a dash of heroism from a local legend, a stirring act of WW2 bravery, and the bittersweet drama of a woman scorned – as well as your usual helpings of fascinating facts from days gone by.

CAST

Pete Budd - Colin Ball

Jesse Organ - Patrick Allen

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 and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

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

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Bluesky: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Bristol Evening Post: Tuesday 3rd September 1968

Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer - Saturday 13 September 1902

Edinburgh Evening News - Saturday 30 July 1938

Lincolnshire Echo - Tuesday 18 August 1942

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2025

HMS Trincomalee

Season: 6 Episode: 23

HMS Trincomalee is one of only two surviving British frigates from her era, alongside her near-sister ship, HMS Unicorn, now preserved as a museum in Dundee. Ordered on 30 October 1812, Trincomalee was constructed in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, by the renowned Wadia family of shipwrights. Her maiden voyage was the begining of a love story and also brought her in contact with a famous French historical figure.

CAST

Eliza Bunt - Rose Hales

Walter Henry - Steve Sheperd

Rear-Admiral Bruce - Joe Wilson

South Durham Herald - 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 and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

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

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Bluesky: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

The History of HMS Trincomalee 1812 to 1986 (Friends of Trincomalee)

Daily News (London) - Tuesday 25 March 1890

“Quarterdeck” magazine Ref: 2009 Issue 1 (Spring) pages 4 to 5

“Quarterdeck” magazine Ref: 2010 Issue 2 (Summer) pages 4 to 7- Mary Hope Monnery

BBC

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2025

The Legend of Lady Anne Clifford (Pt 2)

Season: 6 Episode: 22

The last member of one of England’s great medieval dynasties, Lady Anne Clifford became something of a legend in her own lifetime, and has remained a celebrated figure in the history of northern England ever since. After fighting a 40-year battle for her right to inherit her father’s estates, devoted herself to restoring and enhancing the castles and churches on her lands.

CAST

Lady Anne Clifford - Cerise Reed

Bishop Rainbow - David Hale

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 and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

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

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Bluesky: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Knole Diary of Lady Anne Clifford

Transcript of GEO/ADD/43/19k: Extracts from the diary of Lady Anne Clifford, Countess Dowager

of Dorset, Pembroke and Montgomery, by Charlotte, Queen Consort of George III (n.d. between

1761 and 1818)

© Arthur Burns/Georgian Papers Programme 2019

Katharine Hodgkin, The Diary of Lady Anne Clifford: a Study of Class and Gender in the Seventeenth Century, History Workshop Journal, Volume 19, Issue 1, Spring 1985, Pages 148–161,

The Dudley Women Blog

University of Huddersfield

Richardson, Jerusha D. (1899). Famous Ladies of the English Court. H. Stone.

Friends of the Ullswater Way

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2025

The Legend of Lady Anne Clifford (Pt1)

Season: 6 Episode: 21

The last member of one of England’s great medieval dynasties, Lady Anne Clifford became something of a legend in her own lifetime — and ever since, she’s stood as a celebrated figure in the storied history of northern England.

Anne spent a lot of time at the court of Elizabeth 1 with her parents and became a Lady in Waiting to Queen Anne, wife of King James 1. When her father died and left everything to her uncle instead of her, as was the law, Lady Anne fought back. Unusual for a woman in that era.

CAST

Spanish Armada - Steve Sheperd

Lady Anne Clifford - Cerise Reed

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 and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

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

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Bluesky: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

English Heritage

Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information

Knole Diary of Lady Anne Clifford

Transcript of GEO/ADD/43/19k: Extracts from the diary of Lady Anne Clifford, Countess Dowager

of Dorset, Pembroke and Montgomery, by Charlotte, Queen Consort of George III (n.d. between

1761 and 1818)

© Arthur Burns/Georgian Papers Programme 2019

Katharine Hodgkin, The Diary of Lady Anne Clifford: a Study of Class and Gender in the Seventeenth Century, History Workshop Journal, Volume 19, Issue 1, Spring 1985, Pages 148–161,

The Dudley Women Blog

University of Huddersfield

Richardson, Jerusha D. (1899). Famous Ladies of the English Court. H. Stone.

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2025

Who Killed Young Betty?

Season: 6 Episode: 20

On February 20, 1823, young Betty Trump, just 13 or 14 years old, left her home in Buckland St Mary, near Taunton. She was on her way to visit family in the village of Winsham.

On the return journey, Betty passed through Chard, pausing to pick up some supplies. Then she headed out once more toward Buckland St Mary—and vanished.

This tragedy horrified locals and even had London officers offering to help. They also used less conventional means to try and determine who killed young Betty.

CAST

William Flood - Steve Sheperd

Philip Wyatt - Marcus Kepple-Palmer

Stone Engraving - Rose Hales

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 and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

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

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Bluesky: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser - Saturday 11 June 1938

Langport & Somerton Herald - Saturday 17 July 1858

Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser - Wednesday 26 December 1928

Bristol Mirror - Saturday 12 September 1835

Somerset Heritage Centre

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2025

Florence Simpson

Season: 6 Episode: 19

Florence Simpson didn’t just break new ground—she laid the foundation for the future of women in the British military. From voluntary cook to military commander, hers was a legacy of perseverance, service, and transformation at a time when the role of women in war was being rewritten.

CAST

Florence Simpson - Cerise Reed

Lady Rachel Dudley - Molly Jefferies

Lieutenant General Henry Merrick Lawson - Steve Sheperd

Charlotte Allen Trowell - Sam Roberts

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 and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

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

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Bluesky: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

International Institute of Marine Surveying

Letter from Adjutant General Neville Macready to Quatermaster General John Cowans, 20 December 1916

The National Archives, WO 32/5251

National Army Museum

Tuesday Express - Tuesday 23 February 1926

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2025

The Suicidal Murderer

Season: 6 Episode: 18

On April 5, 1936, Beatrice Sutton was found dead in her London flat, lying across the bed with pillows stacked over her face. At first, it looked like natural causes—but a closer look revealed she’d been strangled. Murder had hidden in plain sight. A murder with an unusual reason behind it

CAST

Frederick Herbert Field - Joe Wilson

Inspector Brown - Steve Sheperd

Detective Inspector Halliday - David Haile

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 and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

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

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Bluesky: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Tuesday 07 April 1936

Nottingham Evening Post - Saturday 18 April 1936

Daily Mirror - Monday 20 April 1936

Murderpedia Juan Ignacio Blanco

Western Morning News - Thursday 14 May 1936

Evening Despatch - Tuesday 30 June 1936 [5]

Leicester Daily Mercury - Tuesday 30 June 1936 [6]

South Western Star - Friday 03 July 1936

Daily Express - Thursday 14 May 1936

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2025

USS Huron: Bristol's U.S Hero

Season: 6 Episode: 17

It was just after midnight on Tuesday, July 21st, 1908, in a quiet little home on Rudgeway Parade, Upper Eastville. The world barely noticed as Antonio Williams drew his final breath. A modest man by all appearances… but behind that quiet ending was a life of extraordinary courage.

Antonio Williams wasn’t just a U.S. Navy pensioner—he was a hero, a survivor of the sea, and one of the few ever awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in peacetime. His official citation, dated November 24, 1877, was brief and humble: “For courage and fidelity displayed in the loss of the USS Huron.” But the real story? Oh, it’s anything but brief.

Today, we dive deep into the legacy of a man who faced death on the high seas—and lived to be quietly forgotten… until now.

CAST

John B. Hawlet - Garrett Odell

DON'T GIVE UP THE FLAG - Joe Wilson

Secretary of the Navy - Mark Vinet

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 and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

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

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Bluesky: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Nottingham Evening Post - Monday 27 July 1908

Western Daily Press - Saturday 25 July 1908

Western Daily Press - Thursday 30 July 1908

North Carolina Shipwrecks

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2025

Lillian Wyles: A Pioneering Police Officer

Season: 6 Episode: 16

Lilian joined the London Metropolitan Police in 1919 as a Sergeant, part of the Metropolitan Women Police Patrols. At the time, this was most unusual for women and initially not at all popular either with fellow Police Officers or the Public as it was deemed "unwomanly". Eventually rising to the rank of Chief Inspector.

CAST

Lilian Wyles - Sam Roberts

Edith Thompson - Cerise Reed

Sheerness Newspaper - Tony Allen

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 and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

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

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Bluesky: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

National Portrait Gallery

Sunday Mirror - Sunday 14 September 1952

University of Law: Inspiring women in policing and criminology

Key Dates

Joined WPS, 17 February 1919

Promoted to Sergeant, WPS, March 31, 1919

Promoted to Inspector, C.I.D., 22 December, 1921 (effective date 12.6.21)

Promoted to Chief Inspector, 1932

BBC

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2025

The Murder of Billy the Tinker (Pt 2)

Season: 6 Episode: 15

Previously, in the quiet village of Bishopsworth…

It’s March 1880. Two colliers, out gathering primroses on an otherwise peaceful day, stumble upon a ghastly sight: a body, cold and decomposed, lying in a gully. The victim? William Palmer Robinson — a traveling razor grinder, eccentric wanderer, and local curiosity known for his fondness for flashy jewelry and those unforgettable lion shillings sewn into his coat like buttons.

The village reels. Soon, three suspects are arrested: William Lock, William Latham, and Julia Hicks. All three are thrown into jail to await the inquest.

But then — just when it seems the mystery might be solved — the unexpected happens.

What happened next, folks, sounds straight out of a Victorian detective novel.

CAST

Character - Actor

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 and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

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

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Bluesky: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Bristol Mercury - Saturday 27 March 1880

Bristol Mercury - Monday 22 March 1880

Bristol Mercury - Tuesday 23 March 1880

Bristol Times and Mirror - Wednesday 24 March 1880

Bristol Mercury - Thursday 01 April 1880

ILLUSTRATED POLICE NEWS

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2025