History Quiz!

Zachary Taylor · 13-05-2003 6:14pm

Yes, he wanted to abolish the tricolour in favour of his own heraldic flag, which was just a white flag. Smart man. And in another aside, MacMahon has been accredited with the invention of mayonnaise but being French his name was pronounced McMayon.

Hairy Homer · 13-05-2003 6:32pm

Originally posted by Zachary Taylor
And in another aside, MacMahon has been accredited with the invention of mayonnaise but being French his name was pronounced McMayon.

Bloody Hell!! A president who actually did something useful!!!

OK My question (for scabbily guessing the 1916 answer)

Speaking of useless presidents:

What did the S stand for in the case of Harry S Truman, former US president?

Victor · 13-05-2003 7:35pm

Originally posted by Hairy Homer
What did the S stand for in the case of Harry S Truman, former US president?

Nothing -

The letter "S" in his name was not an abbreviation. It reflected the family's reluctance to choose between his grandfathers--Anderson Shippe Truman and Solomon Young--in selecting his name.

But his wife was Elizabeth Virginia Wallace Truman

Hairy Homer · 13-05-2003 7:52pm

Originally posted by Victor
Nothing - But his wife was Elizabeth Virginia Wallace Truman

Correct again. Mind you, that looks suspiciously like it was Google assisted. :-)

Hope we're all playing by the rules.

Victor · 13-05-2003 7:56pm

Originally posted by Hairy Homer
Hope we're all playing by the rules.

Rules????

Originally posted by Hairy Homer
Correct again. Mind you, that looks suspiciously like it was Google assisted. :-)

Assisted yes - I only googled the name, not peculiarities about it, and I actually had to go reading several sites.

Éomer of Rohan · 13-05-2003 9:56pm

Well since no one seems to be forthcoming with a question I have one; Zhukov and what other general proposed Operation Uranus to Stalin with the words "We will have to find an alternative" when scared that Stalin would embark once more on a crusade against Mobile Warfare?

Byzantine · 14-05-2003 10:45am

Originally posted by Éomer of Rohan
Well since no one seems to be forthcoming with a question I have one; Zhukov and what other general proposed Operation Uranus to Stalin with the words "We will have to find an alternative" when scared that Stalin would embark once more on a crusade against Mobile Warfare?

Was it Koniev?

Hairy Homer · 14-05-2003 4:53pm

Originally posted by Victor
Rules????

Yes, Rules. From the very first post on this thread by Mark the Moderator.

As for Rules:

* No Muppetry (Tbh I dont expect any but it has to go down)
* Please dont spam.
* Lets not go for impossible questions. Sure you may know how Eisenhower brushed his hair on a Wednesday morning when he had a craving for eggs, but does anyone else? Dont go overboard
* Each correct answer is awarded one point.
* Only the first person with the correct answer gets the point. (me snips loophole)
* Have fun!
* NO GOOGLING!

What part of NO GOOGLING don't you understand? You're a cad and a bounder and I suggest you be put to death by being beaten about the head with a hard copy edition of Winston Churchill's 'History of the English Speaking Peoples'

Or if we want to be sadistic about it, we could make you read it. :-)

Byzantine · 14-05-2003 5:19pm

Originally posted by Hairy Homer
Yes, Rules. From the very first post on this thread by Mark the Moderator.

What part of NO GOOGLING don't you understand? You're a cad and a bounder and I suggest you be put to death by being beaten about the head with a hard copy edition of Winston Churchill's 'History of the English Speaking Peoples'

Or if we want to be sadistic about it, we could make you read it. :-) [/B]

i love that book!!

Victor · 14-05-2003 5:21pm

Originally posted by Hairy Homer
What part of NO GOOGLING don't you understand? You're [/B]

the bit that allows people at home to use (a) yahoo (b) encyclopaedias

Hairy Homer · 14-05-2003 6:01pm

Originally posted by Byzantine
i love that book!!

****ing long though, isn't it? Wouldn't want it to land on your toes.

Have to admit. Haven't read it. Don't like Churchill.

Answer to question. Was the head of the Knights Templar at the siege of Malta called Valetta?

Byzantine · 14-05-2003 6:47pm

Its beautifully written. you dont see that kind of english written anymore.Am very interested in the history of the british isles,so the one volume edition is a great read.dont let the author put you off IMHO its not (too) jingoistic at all.
and close enough : it was Grand master Jean De Valette who was grand master of the Hospitalers during the Turkish attack on Malta.
He is a hero there to this day.Fort St.Elmo (in present day Valetta) was besieged by approx 6000 turks. inside the fort were about 100 Knights hospitalers and a few hundred local levies.in short anyway the Turks sustained so many casualties trying to take the fortress they were forced to retreat from the island.
Theres some nice tales of the 70 year old,and badly wounded De Valette insisting on being strapped to a chair,placed at the breach at a wall with sword in hand,to repel more attacks!
He had an idea aswell of firing the heads of capured Turks from cannons at the nearby enemy encampment as a gesture of defiance.....seems to have worked.

Éomer of Rohan · 14-05-2003 6:50pm

Quoted from Byzantine

Was it Koniev?

Nope. It was Rokossovsky, who had been released from prison to fight the Germans. Good guess though.

Hairy Homer · 15-05-2003 12:28pm

Originally posted by Byzantine
IFort St.Elmo (in present day Valetta) was besieged by approx 6000 turks. inside the fort were about 100 Knights hospitalers and a few hundred local levies.in short anyway the Turks sustained so many casualties trying to take the fortress they were forced to retreat from the island..

I was in Malta a few years ago. Valetta is definitely worth seeing, especially if you're interested in history. It has an air of seige about it even now. All the old buildings, even the residential ones, look like fortresses: sheer steep walls with windows up high. I bet burglars really have to earn their money there.

There is a view of Valetta Harbour from a hill across the bay which is one of the most stupendous I have ever seen. It's a huge port with several inlets inside a larger bay. Given that, and the island's strategic position between Sicily and the African mainland, it's no wonder it has been as fought over as it has.

Which reminds me of a question:

What were the nicknames of the three outdated fighter planes, which for a while, comprised the only air force the British had in Malta to fight off the attacks from Italian and German air forces in the last war?

Byzantine · 15-05-2003 12:34pm

What were the nicknames of the three outdated fighter planes, which for a while, comprised the only air force the British had in Malta to fight off the attacks from Italian and German air forces in the last war?

got it!
Faith,Hope,Charity.

Hairy Homer · 15-05-2003 3:13pm

Thought you might. :-)

Correct. Your question.

Byzantine · 15-05-2003 4:58pm

This Q is the best i can think of at moment...
what religious order were known as "The Hounds Of God"
clue: they still exist
its a play on the latin like appearence of their title(oooh)

Éomer of Rohan · 15-05-2003 10:37pm

What type of aircraft were faith hope and charity? Sopwith Camels

?

Hairy Homer · 16-05-2003 9:18am

Originally posted by Éomer of Rohan
What type of aircraft were faith hope and charity? Sopwith Camels ?

I think they were Gloster Gladiators. But I'd have to Google to be sure.

Manach · 16-05-2003 11:03am

religious order were known as "The Hounds Of God"

Would that be the Dominicans.
If so, my question is,on which Pacific Island did Cpt Cook meet a rather sticky end?

Hairy Homer · 16-05-2003 2:20pm

Originally posted by Manach
Would that be the Dominicans.
If so, my question is,on which Pacific Island did Cpt Cook meet a rather sticky end?

Was it Tonga?

Manach · 16-05-2003 3:39pm

Tonga, afraid not.
For Cptn Cook, it was a case of rest in pieces, as I believe he was on the menu in this island.

PHB · 19-05-2003 3:09pm

Was it Hawaii?

DapperGent · 19-05-2003 3:56pm

Hawaii is correct as far as I can remember.

PHB · 19-05-2003 4:36pm

Lets go with :

Who was known as the grand old man in english politics?

DadaKopf · 19-05-2003 5:03pm

William Gladstone.

PHB · 19-05-2003 5:05pm

Indeed he was, your question?

Hairy Homer · 20-05-2003 6:53pm

OK 24 hours have passed. I'm stepping in.

What was the name of the Irish mercenary who in1719 rescued from imprisonment in Innsbruck, Austria the Polish Princess who became the wife of James Edwart Stuart (the Old Pretender to the English Throne) and mother of Bonnie Prince Charlie?

Two hints: His nickname was Shoveller and his surname is that of a modern-day Irish celebrity.

DadaKopf · 21-05-2003 11:43am

Dang.

Éomer of Rohan · 21-05-2003 6:09pm

Hell, even after giving up and googling for it, I can't find it; all it ever says about the polish princess (besides her name and lineage) is that she was locked up by Charles VI because George I of England was worried that she might sire a son by James who would then come knocking about the kingship of England

History Quiz!

Comments