Explore Listing
The New York Times described the events thus:
'After lunch, Field Marshal Montgomery called the Germans back for further consultation, and there he delivered his ultimatum...He told the Germans:
Following the Japanese attack on the USA at Pearl Harbor, Hitler join his Axis ally in declaring war on the USA.
On 7 March 1936, Adolf Hitler's German troops marched into and remilitarised the Rhineland in contravention of the Treaty of Versailles 1919 and the Locarno Treaties 1925.
Germany invaded France and the Low Countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) on the morning of 10 May 1940.
Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was evacuated on HMS Hereward to England on 13 May and followed her only child and heir presumptive Princess Juliana and husband Prince Bernhard with their children, who had sailed from Ijmuiden on HMS Codrington the day before.
Below: German troops breaking the border barrier in the Polish town of Sopot (Zoppot) on the morning of 1 September 1939. The Soviet invasion would follow on 17 September.
THE GERMAN-SOVIET INVASION OF POLAND, 1939© IWM (HU 56131)
Operation BARBAROSSA was launched around 0315 hours on Sunday 22 June 1941.
In November 1937, the 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers was engaged on operations during the Arab Revolt in the area of Tarshiha in Palestine.
On 25 November, a foot column under Major Tolputt was searching neighbouring villages and wadis when the troops came across three apparent goatherds. Noticing that one made a suspicious movement and that he was also carrying a weapon, Lieutenant Morris opened fire with a Bren gun. Fifteen more armed Arabs broke cover and Morris's men promptly pursued them.
Inspired by the painting of 'Goodbye Old Man' by Chevalier Fortunino Matania, depicting a British soldier saying goodbye to his dying horse, this was one of eight sculptures by Belgian artist Rik Ryon which were purchased by the Art Fund for the Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum in 2005. Across all theatres of the First World War man befriended the pack horses he relied on to supply his every need. At the outbreak of war Matania became a war artist and was recognised for his realistic images of trench warfare.
The third and final day of the Battle of Talavera was 29 July 1809. Battle Honours for such actions were often awarded many years later. The following letter, written in 1819 by the Deputy Adjutant General at 'Horse Guards' in London, recognised the 83rd Regiment's various actions during the Peninsular War - including Talavera. The letter was received in 1820 by the Regiment when it was serving in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka):
_**"SIR,—I have the honour to acquaint you that the Prince
