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adam-holmes.bsky.social
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Thousands of people welcomed Amelia Earhart to Southampton on this day in 1928 after she became the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an aeroplane. Photographed here with Wilmer Stultz (pilot), Lou Gordon (mechanic), and Southampton’s first female mayor, Lucia Foster Welch.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Around 1,500 people died when Titanic sank #OnThisDay 113 years ago. Over a third of those who perished were crew members who had signed on with a Southampton address. Families waited for news outside the White Star Line office on Canute Road, where names of survivors were put up outside.

submitted 75 days ago • 2 comments

10 April 1912. On this day 113 years ago, Titanic departs Southampton for the first and final time as she begins her fateful maiden voyage.

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

Southampton’s first purpose-built public library opened in 1893 on the corner of Cumberland Place and London Road. It was in use until the current library in the Civic Centre opened in 1939. Unfortunately, this lovely building was destroyed during the Blitz.

submitted 139 days ago • 3 comments

Holyrood Church the other night. #OnThisDay in 1940, the church was destroyed along with much of the historic High Street during another huge bombing raid on Southampton. Standing here since 1320, it’s now a Merchant Navy memorial. I wrote a history of the church: historicsouthampton.co.uk/holyrood/

submitted 211 days ago • 0 comments

Stewardess Mary Ann Rogers lost her life, along with over 100 others, when SS Stella sank during a voyage from Southampton to Guernsey in 1899. She gave away her life jacket, helped people into lifeboats, and refused a place in one. To honour her bravery, this memorial was unveiled in 1901.

submitted 366 days ago • 0 comments

On this day in 1937, SS Habana arrived in Southampton from Bilbao. On board were around 3,840 Basque children who had been evacuated from the Spanish Civil War. They were taken to a volunteer-run camp at North Stoneham before being relocated to homes across the country.

submitted 402 days ago • 0 comments

Tommy Cooper was born in Caerphilly on this day in 1921. Moved to Langley as a child, went to school in Fawley. Became an apprentice at the British Power Boat Company in Hythe in 1935; he would spend spare time in Southampton. His mother had a shop at 124 Shirley Road 1940s-1980s.

submitted 467 days ago • 1 comment

Southampton Civic Centre with the clock tower under construction in the 1930s.

submitted 466 days ago • 0 comments

Hampshire Advertiser advert for a British Union of Fascists meeting at the Atherley Hall in Shirley, which was held on this day in 1935. The speaker, William Joyce (AKA Lord Haw-Haw), became a Nazi propaganda broadcaster in Germany during WW2. He was executed for treason in 1946.

submitted 597 days ago • 0 comments

Over 8,000,000 troops from various nations embarked for the First World War from Southampton. Thousands came back to the port wounded or dying. Many never returned. Millions more embarked during Second World War, and in later conflicts. On Remembrance Sunday, we will remember them.

submitted 595 days ago • 0 comments

The western stretch of Southampton’s medieval town walls.

submitted 602 days ago • 0 comments

The Southampton Cenotaph was unveiled on this day in 1920. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, his Whitehall Cenotaph was unveiled in London five days later, on 11 November 1920. An iconic symbol of remembrance, the names of 3,298 Southampton men and women are now listed here.

submitted 601 days ago • 0 comments

What a task that must have been. I can’t imagine what the sight of those survivors amongst all those dead bodies must have been like. It must have haunted him all through his life.

submitted 603 days ago • 1 comment

submitted 604 days ago • 23 comments

Under the Stars xkcd.com/2849

submitted 604 days ago • 25 comments

That must have been quite a sight!

submitted 604 days ago • 0 comments

The amount of pubs that have now gone…

submitted 609 days ago • 0 comments

A brave lad. I wonder what happened to the downed Germans after that.

submitted 611 days ago • 0 comments

On this day in 1415: The Battle of Agincourt. Most of Henry V’s army had embarked at Southampton. Henry was here on a number of occasions as he prepared his invasion. Some of the men who fought at Agincourt would have walked through Southampton’s Westgate to board their ships.

submitted 613 days ago • 0 comments