Latest news with #SecondWorldWar
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Hidden beach no one knows about is hiding amazing secret
Secret beach with fabulous views set within a rugged coastline surrounded by woodland - this county is becomes extremely busy in the summer holidays, but you can get away from the crowds at this spot Many of us want to escape the crowds in summertime but finding a beach with room for your towel - or even a flannel - can be a challenge when the sun shines. But one hidden cove framed by forest is in such a remote spot - and it holds a secret that highlights just how out of sight the beach is. Noted for its remoteness, this concealed Devon beach was no doubt frequented by smugglers centuries ago, but it also holds another secret from the Second World War - a German boat came ashore and was not spotted, due to the isolated nature of the small beach. The rocky cove of Heddon's Mouth is located on the north side of the county, nestled on the North Devon coast between Combe Martin and Lynton. Getting to the rocky shore which has 'super-sized pebbles' is about an hour-long hike, but the stunning views make it worthwhile. The Beach Guide website describes the cove as sitting at the mouth of the River Heddon which has 'carved a deep valley to the rear of the beach'. The Beach Guide website explains the location: 'The beach here is made up of medium sized rounded rocks, like super-sized pebbles. The (small) river runs down the middle of the beach and to either side cliffs rise up. "This is a fairly out of the way spot and is mostly visited by ramblers these days. In the past it was a favourite haunt of smugglers who appreciated its remoteness. 'In fact the cove is so isolated that during World War II the crew of a German U-Boat were able to come ashore in search of fresh water and relaxation without the fear of being spotted.' You are able to park nearby, before taking on the hour-long hike to the cove, needless to say, there are no shops when you reach the destination so you'll need to go prepared. The secluded pebbly cove is well hidden by the cliffs that tower around it. One Google reviewer describes Heddon's Mouth: 'This is a stone and large pebble beach at the mouth of the River Heddon. There is plenty of parking and it's just past the Hunter's Inn - a word of warning the back roads are very tight. 'Then it's a hike through a wooded area alongside the flowing river. Near the end you'll cross over a bridge to the other side and along to the beach. The river flows into the pebbles and sort of disappears and then reappears as several streams running down to the sea.' Also reviewing the place on Google, Erin Urban wrote: 'Wonderful short walk to the sea with spectacular cliffs and rocky shoreline. The path is well maintained. 'The stones can be uneven and rocky in places. I recommend thicker soles or sturdy boots for those with sensitive feet. There is one place on the main path that has loose rock. 'You can walk on either side of the stream for half of the journey and switch on the way back for variety. Lunch and tea is available at the Lodge by the carpark.'
Toronto Star
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Stalin makes a comeback in Putin's wartime crackdown on dissent
At Moscow's central Taganskaya metro station, commuters stream past a newly restored monument to a former ruler whose reputation is undergoing a dramatic revision in Russia: Joseph Stalin. With President Vladimir Putin tightening the screws of repression as his invasion of Ukraine drags on, the Soviet dictator is making a comeback as a victorious Second World War leader rather than the man responsible for the deaths of millions of his citizens. Russia's Communist Party, still the second-largest in the parliament, voted this month to press for full political rehabilitation of Stalin, who's shown flanked by children offering flowers and gratitude in the metro station sculpture unveiled in May.
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Government must stand firm on Israel's illegal occupation and genocide in Gaza Strip
There are moments in history when silence is complicity. There are moments when the scale of violence, suffering, brutality, and horror is so immense that our very humanity is questioned. What we are witnessing in Gaza today is one such horrific moment, a genocide that has resulted in the greatest humanitarian catastrophe witnessed since the Second World War. The haunting images emerging daily from Gaza remind us of stark horrors from the 20th century, horrors that once shocked the world into pledging 'never again'. However, here we are once more. Close to 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, including more than 17,000 innocent children. More than 139,000 have been wounded. Thousands of children have been left orphaned. Israel has made Gaza a graveyard for children, women, men, medical staff, humanitarian workers, and journalists. An entire population is being starved. Famine is occurring directly as a result of Israel's brutal, illegal, and cruel blocking of aid. The UN has described Gaza as the hungriest place on Earth, the only territory on Earth where the whole population is at risk of famine. Israel has obstructed aid to such a degree that only a drip feed gets into the starving and malnourished population. On May 19, the Israeli cabinet approved a decision to allow 'basic' food into Gaza. A drop in an ocean and the conditions imposed by the Israeli authorities continue to prevent the delivery of large-scale humanitarian aid. The near total collapse of Gaza's healthcare system is severely impacting pregnant women, new mothers, and newborns, depriving them of their rights to maternity healthcare Israel is weaponising water, continuing to destroy water facilities, and cutting electricity needed to pump water and power desalination plants. Each day, we get to a point of horror we thought unimaginable. Children bear the brunt of Israel's genocidal actions. Child malnutrition is surging, doubling since March. Just as Israel has ensured the almost collapse of the healthcare system, 90,000 women and children desperately need access to care for acute malnutrition. Some 10 children a day are losing one or both limbs. Israel is maiming a generation. Weaponising humanitarian aid The shameful Israeli and US-controlled Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution point are putting a terrorised population at further risk. It is, it seems, just another way of killing Palestinians, with nearly 900 desperate and hungry Gazans killed trying to access aid. UN entities and humanitarian organisations, including ActionAid, have unanimously rejected the scheme. It violates core humanitarian principles and forces Palestinians into militarised zones to access life-saving assistance. The plan as outlined effectively weaponises humanitarian aid, turning it into a tool of oppression, further entrenching Israeli government control over Gaza, and continuing its long-term displacement and collective punishment of Palestinians there. Now, another dark and horrifying layer may be added to this devastating humanitarian crisis. The Israeli government has reportedly proposed setting up an internment camp in the Gaza Strip, a fenced-in zone under military control where thousands of Palestinians would be corralled under surveillance, stripped of freedom, and essentially imprisoned without trial or rights. This would effectively be a concentration camp, and it rightly has provoked widespread outrage with accusations of ethnic cleansing and violations of international law. Meanwhile in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the situation has reached a breaking point. Palestinian families are being displaced, denied access to essential services, and left unprotected. One year after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territory to be unlawful and ordered its unconditional and rapid withdrawal, Israeli authorities have escalated annexation, settlement expansion, land seizures, and violence, with devastating consequences for Palestinians. From January to June 2025, Israeli settlers carried out an average of four attacks per day, injuring 340 Palestinians, against 148 during the same period in 2024 — a rise of 130%. Over 90% of settler violence complaints are closed without indictment This is the backdrop for the crucial debates that just concluded on the Occupied Territories Bill by the Oireachtas committee on foreign affairs and trade. The proposed bill would be a hugely important, but modest, step in accountability for egregious violations of international law, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It must include both goods and services. Those opposing the bill say it will violate US federal law, will damage our standing with the US, and will be bad for Irish business. All arguments that have been eloquently debunked in the committee debates. The overwhelming majority of companies here have no involvement at all in the illegal Israeli settlements, just as they're not doing business with Russian entities destroying Ukraine. Economic impact The bill is a modest pressure with no evidence to show that it will have a negative economic impact. Nor does it amount to a boycott of Israel, or a breach of US law, as it only relates to illegal settlements that Israel has taken from Palestinians. The argument that the bill would violate EU law also fell to pieces this week. In the context of a shamefully weak overall response by the EU to its review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, one measure it did put forward was the ability of states to legislate nationally to ban trade with illegal settlements. Regardless of the above, we must take a stand and hold onto humanity for dear life. Ireland must hold its nerve, even in the face of opposition from the US We have obligations under international law. Just like with apartheid South Africa, we must stand against apartheid Israel. Ireland is not isolated in its action. The emergency summit hosted last week by Colombia and South Africa under the Hague Group framework, which was aimed at co-ordinating multilateral legal, diplomatic, and economic measures to halt Israel's military offensive in Gaza, was hugely significant. Delegations from more than 30 countries, as well as UN officials such as special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, attended the summit. A suite of actions on holding Israel to account are now on the table. Ireland — please stay strong. To kill, starve, cage, and erase an entire population is genocide. This is so much more than politics. This is about international law. This is about humanity. Karol Balfe is CEO of ActionAid Ireland and supports the humanitarian response in Gaza through ActionAid Palestine and partners Read More Pope Leo renews call for immediate Gaza ceasefire
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dig into the UK's ancient past at these 7 archaeological sites
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Despite their ancient age, the UK's most famous archaeological treasures keep revealing new secrets, from recently unearthed dinosaur species to new Roman excavations. To help you follow the archaeology buzz, we dig into the nation's top spots to explore our ancient past, where revamped museums, interactive exhibits and hands-on excavation experiences bring our early history vividly to life. 1. Sutton Hoo, Suffolk First unearthed in 1939, with the shadow of the Second World War looming, Sutton Hoo is an early medieval royal burial site that's famously home to the ship burial of seventh-century Anglo-Saxon King Rædwald. Long-neglected, Sutton Hoo reopened in summer 2019 after a year-long refurbishment, which included transforming Tranmer House, home of Edith Pretty who commissioned the original archaeological excavation (the events of which are dramatised in the film The Dig, released in 2021). Now open to the public for the first time, the 1930s house has in-depth displays detailing the development of the dig and the ongoing research at Sutton Hoo. The refurb also saw the creation of a new walking route out to the burial mounds, where you can follow in the footsteps of the Anglo-Saxons, who hauled the monumental timber ship to the top of a hill to bury their king, replete with gold and other treasures, including the iconic Sutton Hoo helmet. Nearby, at Woodbridge, pay a visit to The Longshed, where the Sutton Hoo Ship's Company (a team of professionals, volunteers and enthusiasts) is currently constructing a replica of the ship. 2. Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight earns its status as one of Europe's richest palaeontology hubs by producing new dinosaur discoveries practically year on year. Among the island's findings are around 20 species of dinosaur from the early Cretaceous Period. In 2024, one of the best-preserved dinosaurs ever found in the UK was unearthed on the island. Named Comptonatus chasei, it formed part of the local eco system over 120 million years ago. This discovery came only one year after the fossilised remains of a previously unknown dinosaur were found nearby, triggering reanalysis of similar remains to help solve the age-old question of why the dinosaurs went extinct. Lots of fossils are on display at Dinosaur Isle, the UK's first purpose-built dinosaur museum. Step over the sea wall at Sandown to explore its recreated prehistoric landscape, populated by life-sized models of the Isle of Wight's biggest dinosaur discoveries; see skeletons as they were found by fossil hunters; watch volunteers preparing the latest finds; or join the Fossil Walks led by expert guides teaching you how to find your own ancient artefacts. 3. Stonehenge, Wiltshire There's always something big being unearthed in Stonehenge country, and the latest discoveries reveal the origin of the largest rocks in the circle. In the last decade, it was discovered that the mysterious bluestones came from a quarry deep in the Welsh Preseli hills. And, in 2024, scientists found that the alter stone – arguably the most ritualistically important piece of the formation – was brought to Stonehenge from the north of Scotland, a journey of well over 500 miles. Try your arm at dragging a massive stone monolith at the site's smartly curated visitor centre. Or, for the closest possible view of the stones, visit the site during winter or summer solstice: the only times of the year in which you can stand among the stones as part of its 'managed open access'. Watch the sun set and rise at this magnificent monument and share in the ancient sacred tradition. Just be sure to check the specific solstice entry times for the day. Stonehenge country has numerous options for further exploration, including the many archaeological treasures on show at Salisbury Cathedral Museum. And within sight of the stones is the UK's biggest prehistoric monument, which is around 4,500 years old. Uncovered in 2020, the Neolithic find includes 20 vast holes that suggest the boundaries of an earlier enclosure circle. The site is so large that is contains Durrington Walls, the UK's largest henge, and Woodhenge too. 4. Wittenham Clumps, Oxford Occupied for more than 3,000 years, archaeologists were expecting to find some worthy prizes beneath the ground of this ancient Oxfordshire landmark. What they weren't prepared for was a double-whammy discovery that spanned two rich seams of history: an extended Iron Age settlement with more than a dozen roundhouses dating from 400BC to 100BC as well as a vast Roman villa dating back to the late third century. Wittenham Clumps is managed by Dig Ventures who offer various 'Archaeology In Your Hands' experiences, which they describe as 'exciting crowdfunded and crowdsourced archaeology projects you can be part of'. These can range from guided excavations at live digs to 'Finds Room' experiences, expert talks to online courses endorsed by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. It can be as in-depth or accessible as you desire; DigCamp, for example, are day experiences for families to get hands-on at a real, live, in-progress dig, dirt and all. 5. Orkney Islands, Scotland At the heart of Neolithic Orkney's rich pickings, four UNESCO World Heritage Sites are widely regarded as the finest in Western Europe. Skara Brae is older than both the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge and has been dubbed the Scottish Pompeii for its pristine state. Dating back some 5,000 years, this Neolithic settlement was discovered in 1850 by the Laird of Skaill, thanks to a landscape-stripping storm that raised grass from a mound under which the ruins had been concealed for millennia. With the white-sand beach of the Skaill as a fittingly dramatic backdrop, Skara Brae is a stone-built prehistoric settlement that reveals the finer points of day-to-day Neolithic life. See ancient homes complete with stone bed enclosures, dressers and seats. Replica constructions complete the interior interpretation, which can be further explored in touch-screen clarity at the on-site visitor centre museum. 6. Hadrian's Wall Country Discoveries still abound at Hadrian's Wall, where there are plenty of places to step back into the past. Try historical re-enactments around the ruins, archaeological talks, guided walks or wall-spanning history-focused hikes and bike routes that take you between the North and Irish Seas. Plus, there are lots of hands-on dig opportunities for all ages. The wall itself, a near 80-mile stretch of fortifications marking the northern frontier of Hadrian's Roman Empire, isn't the only attraction here: there's so much more to see in the surrounding country. A mile south of the wall, Vindolanda is regarded as one of Europe's most exciting Roman digs: nine forts built on top of each other that garrisoned soldiers from across the Roman Empire. It includes a bathhouse, tavern and shops, all dating back to the third century. And if this isn't compelling enough, a 2017 discovery revealed an entire Roman cavalry barracks underneath the site, complete with thousands of extraordinary military and personal possessions dating back almost 2,000 years. It was a haul significant for its size and pristine state, but also for its evidence of the long military build-up that led to the wall's construction in AD 122. Excavations at Vindolanda take place annually, attracting hundreds of volunteers from all over the world, so sign up early. Or visit the on-site museum, which has an extensive display of the mind-boggling number of objects found during the excavations. 7. Scilly Isles The tiny Isles of Scilly are home to 239 hugely significant ancient monuments and archaeological landmarks: the UK's greatest density of historic sites. Maritime shipwrecks, Bronze Age burial chambers dating back 3,000 years, deserted Christian chapels on uninhabited islands, fortified castles and English Civil War headlands, all contribute to these wild islands' natural landscapes. St Mary's, the largest island, is home to large stone earth mounds that form distinctive Bronze Age burial chambers known as entrance graves — often described as Scillonian tombs, thanks to their local concentration. Strikingly preserved Innisidgen has sweeping views across to neighbouring St Martin's. And the cemetery of Porth Hellick Down, in St Mary's, to the south east, has six grave mounds, including the impressive 12-metre-wide Porth Hellick Down Burial Chamber: just two of a string of ceremonial monuments lining the Scilly Isles' coastal hilltops. They're stellar spots for eternal rest, or a panoramic place to camp for a few nights if you manage to bag a booking at any of the islands' campsites. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only). Solve the daily Crossword
Hamilton Spectator
12 hours ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Last Second World War veteran from Hamilton's Rileys dies at 100
The last soldier known to have served in the Second World War fighting for the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry regiment has died. Gerald (Gerry) Wagner, who turned 100 in the spring, died July 19. He had been living in a retirement home in Lively, a small town near Sudbury. Wagner, who grew up in the Ottawa Valley and Sudbury, enlisted in 1944 at 18 to serve in the war against Hitler's Nazi Germany. At 19, overseas, Private Wagner joined the RHLI — known as the 'Rileys' — as the regiment engaged in heavy fighting to liberate the Netherlands in the final months of the war. In a 2021 article in The Sudbury Star, Wagner recalled his unit coming under fire at nighttime, hearing the 'whistling' of enemy shells overhead, waiting for the silence that preceded an explosion. Gerald Wagner enlisted to serve in the Second World War at 18. Believed to be the last surviving veteran from the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry to serve in the war, he died July 19 at 100. 'All of a sudden you'd hear that stop. Well, as soon as it stopped, you hit the ground and put your hands over your head … We had our days.' Among the medals he received was the King Charles III Coronation Medal, presented to him by a Sudbury-area MPP in April, shortly after his 100th birthday. As was the case with many Second World War veterans, Wagner rarely spoke of his combat experiences. His daughter, Kathy O'Neill, told The Spectator that only recently, while listening to him give an interview, did she learn of an incident that long haunted him. Her father was recalling the time his unit came under fire in a village from a German sniper positioned high in a bell tower. Wagner's commanding officer called for a marksman. 'And my dad said, 'so I stepped up.' He said he had to eliminate the sniper. I looked at my father — I was in shock. I had never heard that he was a marksman, or I guess people would call him a sniper. But he was trained for it.' O'Neill learned her father, a man of faith, had feared he would not make it to heaven for having killed, and that a few years ago, he met with his church minister to share his feelings. Gerald Wagner on his wedding day in June 1944, having married Ivy Hodgins. They were together 65 years, before she died in 2009. Wagner rarely talked about his wartime experiences. Wagner's obituary notes that he had long been active, volunteering at Trinity United Church in Lively. The RHLI has a long and storied history dating back 163 years, but is perhaps most known for bravery and sacrifice in the ill-fated raid on the French coastal town of Dieppe in August 1942. The raid was a precursor to the successful D-Day landings two years later. Nearly 200 Rileys were killed in the Dieppe operation. A striking memorial to their sacrifice stands in Hamilton's Beach Strip community . RHLI Honorary Colonel Glenna Swing offered a comment about Wagner's passing, saying that 'when a veteran dies, grief can be felt by an entire country. Private Wagner's service made a difference to his unit and Canada and for that he will always be remembered.' She concluded her statement with ' Semper Paratus,' the RHLI motto that means 'Always Ready.' Wagner's daughter said her father had hoped to continue living until at least August, so he could meet his soon-to-be-born fifth great-grandchild, expected by her son, Ryan, who lives in Waterdown. Wagner had been close to all of his great-grandchildren, she noted, among them Ryan's seven-year-old, Kadence. During his final days in hospital up north, Kadence asked her dad to give Wagner one of her stuffed toys, an elf, to keep him company. 'Kadence hugged it really tight, and said 'give this to great grandpa and tell him I put all my love into it.' When we walked into his hospital room, there he was, snuggling with that elf.' Jon Wells is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. jwells@ A letter home from Private Gerald (Gerry) Wagner to his brother, Douglas, dated April 27, 1945, just over a week before Nazi Germany surrendered in the Second World War. He writes that he is typing the letter on a 'jerry machine' that he found in a German house. 'Jerry' was a nickname given to German soldiers by the Allies. Page two of Private Gerry Wagner's letter home. Wagner references his wife, Ivy, and adds that he hopes to be home soon and that his unit is about to launch perhaps their 'last attack' of the war. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
