Success Gallery

The new coffee tavern at Bradford

Interior and exterior views of the new coffee tavern in Bradford, inaugurated by W. E Forster, M.P in 1879. The Coffee Tavern movement was a Victorian effort to get people out of pubs. Proposed by the Bradford councillor, alderman and magistrate, Frederick Priestman, the tavern was opened at the junction of Westgate, Ivegate and Kirkgate and was an immediate commercial success serving food as well as coffee. Within a few years there were 28 branches in the Bradford district but with over 400 licensed beer sellers in the area, how much of a sobering effect they had on the local population is debatable

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

HMS Hermes, Highflyer-class protected cruiser

Royal Navy - HMS Hermes, a Highflyer-class protected cruiser, before conversion to an experimental seaplane carrier / tender. HMS Hermes was a Highflyer-class protected cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the 1890s. She spent much of her early career as flagship for various foreign stations before returning home in 1913 to be assigned to the reserve Third Fleet. The ship was modified later that year as the first experimental seaplane carrier in the Royal Navy. In that year's annual fleet manoeuvres, she was used to evaluate how aircraft could cooperate with the fleet and if aircraft could be operated successfully at sea for an extended time. The trials were a success and Hermes was paid off in December at their conclusion. She was recommissioned at the beginning of World War I in August 1914 for service as an aircraft ferry and depot ship for the Royal Naval Air Service. She was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in the Straits of Dover that October, with the loss of 21 lives. Date: circa 1907

© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans A The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans

British troops and Locals Memorial, Sint Michielsgestel

There is much erudite discussion about whether Operation Market Garden was a success or a failure. Certainly, the prime objective - to outflank the German defences along the River Rhine (& end the war by Christmas!) - was not achieved. While only one bridge of those planned to be captured by the airborne troops was not taken - the one at Arnhem (the Bridge too Far') - & the ground advance came to a stop, fighting between Arnhem in the north and Nijmegen in the south, an area that became known as The Island, went on for the rest of 1944. However, large areas of Holland were taken and many V2 launch sites were captured. Fighting continued until 7 November and liberated more than 800 square kms south of the River Maas.This Memorial commemorates the Liberation of Sint Michielsgestel by the 1st Northants/7th Black Watch on 23 October 1944 Date: 2000

© Holts Battlefield Collection / Mary Evans