On This Day: "V For Victory" Campaign Launched

It is 46 years to the day that Winston Churchill launched the 'V for Victory' campaign, during a public speech.

The then-Prime Minister accompanied the message with his famous V-shaped finger gesture.

It was made more fitting given the French word for 'victory' translates to 'victoire', and the Dutch word for 'freedom' translates as 'vrijheid'.

Tributes To The Great War Dead

98 years ago, the Cenotaph was unveiled in central London, following the conclusion of the First World War.

Originally, a temporary monument made of wood and plaster was constructed at short notice for Peace Day 1919, but its immediate popularity with the public led the government to commission a permanent Cenotaph made of stone.

The current structure was unveiled by King George VI on 11 November 1920 - the second anniverary of the end of the First World War.

The King's Flagship Goes Down

If we look a little further back into history, it is 472 years since the flagship of Henry VIII, the Mary Rose, sank after 34 years of service.

During the Battle of the Solent between England and France, the vessel was one of 80 English ships in place at Portsmouth against the French fleet of 128, but for reasons still under speculation today, the ship went down, killing hundreds of crew.

The wreckage of the Mary Rose was raised in 1982.