A Brief History This article presents a chronological list of notable events that happened on October 19th.  For each date below, please click on the date to be taken to an article covering that date’s event. Digging Deeper October 19 marks the feast of Saint Frithuswith, also spelled Frideswide, who passed away on that date in 727 A.D., and for whom a king had died as he tried to force her into marriage! On October 19, 1864, military forces of the Confederate States of America invaded Vermont from a staging area in Quebec, Canada. On October 19, 1943, a French cargo ship…

A Brief History On October 19, 1943, a French cargo ship that had been seized by Germany in 1942, was sunk by USAAF North American B-25 Mitchell and RAF Bristol Beaufighter bombers near Crete, taking 2,098 Italian soldiers being held as POWs to a watery grave. Digging Deeper The Italians had surrendered to the Allies in September of 1943, and the Germans were faced with considerable numbers of Italian military forces alongside German forces.  The Germans decided to give the Italian soldiers the choice of either serving alongside their German comrades just as before the surrender, or to assume the…

A Brief History This article presents a chronological list of notable events that happened on October 18th.  For each date below, please click on the date to be taken to an article covering that date’s event. Digging Deeper On October 18, 1356, Basel, Switzerland was destroyed by what may have been the most significant historic earthquake ever to occur north of the Alps. On October 18, 1851, the Herman Melville classic, Moby Dick, was first published under its original or alternate title, The Whale. On October 18, 1945, the Soviet nuclear program received American atomic bomb (plutonium implosion type) plans…

A Brief History On October 18, 2012, Marvin Lambert, known in professional wrestling as Brain Damage, was only 34 years old when he was found dead, his death believed to have been self-caused.  While his passing was of course tragic, his ring name remains quite memorable as is the case with many pro wrestlers who have iconic professional names, and today we take a look at some of our favorites. Digging Deeper Andre the Giant, born André René Roussimoff, at 7 feet 4 inches and 520 pounds, he really lived up to his name by being simple, direct, and intimidating…

A Brief History This article presents a chronological list of notable events that happened on October 17th.  For each date below, please click on the date to be taken to an article covering that date’s event. Digging Deeper On October 17, 1091, a tornado with a strength thought to be about T8/F4, which means a severely devastating tornado with winds over 200 miles per hour, struck the heart of London, England. On October 17, 1814, a bizarre incident occurred involving our favorite potable, the noble brewski. On October 17, 1931, Mobster Al “Scarface” Capone was convicted of income tax evasion…