Content by F T.Bear
Good morning! Rise and shine!
Today in history is a place for you early risers to exercise your brains as you wait for the day to begin. Please, by all means, bring your own bits of history to the comments section and add your memories of what YOU did on this day however many years ago.
The beauty of an early morning historical post is that the date can mean the event happened today “our time” or today “other side of the world” time.
From the life and death of Plato through to the latest most recent history as it happens, we intend on bringing you stimulating and educational historical knowledge.
20 July
1892, The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company’s locomotive #10 establishes a world speed record for the 3ft 6in gauge track. It averaged 68kmh on a 2 hour run and hit a top speed of 103kph. #10 was changed to N454 when taken over by NZR. It would be dumped in the Waimakariri River after it was withdrawn from service in 1928. It’s sister is being restored at Paekakariki.
1965, During a botched escape at Mount Eden Prison 2 prisoners beat a warder and begin taking hostages and unlocking cells. The ensuing riot lasted 33 hours and ended when the prisoners ran out of food, fuel and shelter. The riot lead for calls for the aging prison to be demolished but it was rebuilt.
1969, Taking one giant leap for mankind, at 10.49EDT Neil Armstrong steps off the lunar module “Eagle” after it had landed, and walks on the moon.
1944, Adolf Hitler cheats death when a bomb in a briefcase fails to kill him. The bomb had been planted by Col. Claus von Stauffenberg who had been given the task by the assassination group. Von Stauffenberg and others were shot that night. Hitlers wrath would lead to some 5000 being killed or committing suicide.