Born on this day
Thursday, September 8, 1921. : Harry Secombe, singer, comedian and actor, is born.
Harry Secombe was born on 8 September 1921 in Swansea, South Wales. He was one of the original Goons of the Goon Show, a British radio comedy programme originally produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1951 to 1960 on the BBC Home Service. Secombe appeared in the radio series as Neddy Seagoon, and played alongside “Goons” founder Spike Milligan, and Peter Sellers. He appeared in a variety of stage musicals, including Pickwick in 1963 and The Four Musketeers in 1967, and he also starred in the 1968 musical film “Oliver!” Harry Secombe was knighted in 1981, and died on 11 April 2001.
Born on this day
Tuesday, September 8, 1925. : Peter Sellers, British comedian and actor, is born.
Peter Sellers was born Richard Henry Sellers in Southsea, Hampshire, England, on 8 September 1925. His early entertainment experience came from playing the ukulele, banjo and drums for jazz bands. Sellers was one of the original Goons of the Goon Show, a British radio comedy programme originally produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1951 to 1960 on the BBC Home Service. Sellers appeared in the radio series alongside “Goons” founder Spike Milligan, and Harry Secombe, who shared Sellers’s birthday. He moved on to television and films. Sellers died on 24 July 1980, from a heart attack.
Australian History
Saturday, September 8, 1792. : The first convict is believed to have been buried in the Old Sydney Burial Ground.
The Old Sydney Burial Ground is also known as the George Street Burial Ground, the Cathedral Close Cemetery or the Town Hall Cemetery. Bordered by George, Druitt, Bathurst and Kent Streets, it was laid out in 1793 by Governor Phillip and Reverend Johnson. Before it was officially set out, Phillip and Rev Johnson chose the site in September 1792, as it was far enough away from the main settlement to not pose a health hazard. The first interment was a convict named Michael Dunn, who was believed to have been buried at the site on 8 September 1792.
Around 2300 people, both convicts and free settlers, were interred at the Old Sydney Burial Ground before 1820, when a new burial ground was opened on Brickfield Hill, later the site of Central Railway Station. In 1869, the site needed to be cleared for the construction of the Sydney Town Hall, so the Old Burial Ground was moved to Haslem’s Creek, to become the Rookwood Cemetery.
World History
Friday, September 8, 1854. : The handle of the public water pump in Broad St, London is removed in an attempt to end the deadly cholera epidemic.
Cholera was a common disease in previous centuries. Poor sanitation contributed significantly to outbreaks and the spread of cholera, but at the time, it was not known that this was the cause. London was one of many cities which suffered numerous cholera outbreaks, and it was hit by yet another in 1854.
John Snow was a doctor who had served as both colliery surgeon and unqualified assistant during the 1831-32 London Cholera epidemic. He then studied at the Huntierian School of Medicine in London and, within two years, was accepted into the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He graduated from the University of London in 1844. Snow believed that cholera developed and was transmitted via contaminated food and water, a theory he propounded in his 1849 publication, “On the Mode of Communication of Cholera”. This was contrary to the prevailing belief that cholera was transmitted by inhaling contaminated vapours. Snow had neither evidence nor proof to back up his beliefs.
When London was again hit by a cholera epidemic, this time in 1854, Snow meticulously plotted the location of deaths resulting from the diseases. From this, he extrapolated the likely centre of contamination, noting that up to 500 deaths had occurred in under two weeks near the intersection of Cambridge and Broad Street. This prompted Snow to meet with the Board of Guardians of St. James’s parish and demand the removal of the handle from the water pump on Broad St, which was freely accessed by the public. The handle was duly removed on 8 September 1854. An immediate reduction in deaths was reported, and the epidemic contained.
Although the evidence seemed clear, controversy dogged Snow’s theory for years after the event. Some were of the belief that the epidemic had already reached its climax at the time of Snow’s action, whilst others believed that Snow only mapped the locations after the removal of the pump handle. Nonetheless, credit goes to Snow for his bold actions, and the fact that his theory that cholera was transmitted through contaminated water was subsequently proved viable.
World History
Saturday, September 8, 1900. : 8000 are killed when Galveston, Texas, is hit by a powerful hurricane.
Galveston is a city in Texas, on Galveston Island on the Gulf Coast of the United States. It was also the location of one the deadliest ever natural disasters in the United States.
The Great Galveston Hurricane was a category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with wind gusts up to 217 kilometres per hour. The hurricane made landfall at Galveston during mid-afternoon on 8 September 1900. The estimated death toll was between 6,000 and 12,000, while the official number was cited as 8,000.
The high death toll was attributed to a number of factors. The inhabitants of the city were familiar with the vagaries of the weather, so early morning warnings in the form of dark skies, high tides and heavy swells went unheeded. A fifteen-foot high wall of water preceded the hurricane, swamping the low-lying city. Extreme wind gusts hurled entire rows of houses into subsequent rows, and people were hit by flying bricks and slate roofs.
To minimise the effects of future hurricanes, a solid seawall was built along Gakveston’s ocean front. The city authorities commenced extensive work raising buildings by up to seventeen feet by pumping sand beneath foundations. Of lasting economic impact, however, was the decision by several shipping companies to move their operations further north to Houston, where there was a safer harbour.
World History
Wednesday, September 8, 1943. : Italy’s surrender to the Allies in WWII is announced.
Prior to World War II, Italy had allied itself with Hitler’s Germany. The Italian forces had been defeated in northern Africa and the Balkans, reducing support for Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his leadership. Mussolini was ousted in July 1943 by the Italian Fascist Party’s Grand Council: the Italian military then took over and negotiated a surrender to Anglo-American forces, which was announced on 8 September 1953. According to the commander in chief of Allied forces in the Mediterranean, General Eisenhower, Italy had agreed to end all hostilities with the United Nations.
Four days after the announcement, German troops acted swiftly to free Mussolini from where he was being held in detention. After his rescue, he set up and became leader of the Italian Socialist Republic in German-held northern Italy. Two years later, he was arrested again by Italian partisans, and executed.
Special Days
Thursday, September 8, 1966. : Today is Star Trek Day, celebrating when Science Fiction series ‘Star Trek’ aired for the first time.
Star Trek, the science fiction series which went on to spawn many more spinoff series and films, was created by Gene Roddenberry and debuted on 8 September 1966. Set in the 23rd century, Star Trek follows the adventures of the Starship Enterprise and her crew. Initially, the series did not rate well, and only a sustained campaign by its devoted fans kept the series going through two more seasons.
The show’s success came after it was sold into syndication, and stations were able to air it at times more suited to its fans and potential audience. A new audience created a broad market for the franchise, thus paving the way for the success of six Star Trek movies based around the characters of the original series. The first of the spinoff series, ‘Star Trek: the Next Generation’, premiered in 1987. Further series have followed, including ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”, ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’ ‘and ‘Star Trek: Voyager’, as well as new movies. 8 September has recently become known as ‘Star Trek Day’, a time to celebrate all things Star Trek.