1943: Allies land on Sicily
After months of preparation, the British Eighth Army under General
Bernard Law Montgomery lands on the southeast corner of Sicily. British and American forces had raced across the Mediterranean from
Malta and
Tunisia to attack Sicily's shores while the U.S. Seventh Army under General George Patton came ashore on the southwestern coast. On August 17, Patton arrived in Messina before Montgomery, completing the Allied conquest of Sicily and winning the so-called Race to Messina.
1997
In England, more than 100,000 people pack Hyde Park in London for a countryside rally to protest against Government proposals to ban fox hunting.1985
The
Greenpeace campaign ship, Rainbow Warrior, sinks off Auckland in
New Zealand after two explosions inside the hull.
1979
The Chrysler Car Company re-named Talbot.1976
A leak of weedkiller from a chemicals factory in Northern
Italy forms a toxic cloud around the town of Seveso killing 40,000 animals and destroying crops.
1969
The trimaran, belonging to lone British sailor Donald Crowhurst, is found abandoned - ruining his elaborate hoax that he was attempting to sail around the world.1964
British group The Beatles release 'Hard Day's Night'.1962
The launch of Telstar, the world's first television communications satellite, bringing live pictures from America to Europe.1958
Britain introduces its first parking meters - in Mayfair, London.1954
At Sandown, champion jockey Sir Gordon Richards rides in his last race - the 21,834th of his 34 year career.1951
British boxer Randolph Turpin wins the world middleweight title – outpointing the American, 'Sugar'
Ray Robinson. 1943
World War II: The beginning of the Allied landings in Sicily.1553
Lady Jane Grey is proclaimed Queen of England aged 16. She is forced to abdicate after 9 days and is later beheaded for her involvement in a rebellion against her successor, Mary
Tudor. 1460
War of the Roses: The Yorkists defeat the Lancastrians and capture
Henry VI at the Battle of Northampton.
138
Death of Roman Emperor Hadrian. 1945
English tennis player Virginia Wade.1943
American tennis player Arthur Ashe - the first black player to become men's champion at Wimbledon.1908
American food manufacturer Henry John Heinz1977
English snooker player Joe Davis, 15 times winner of the world championship, dies aged 77.138
Roman Emperor Hadrian.
