The BackTracker History Show

The Backtracker

Based in the UK, this self confessed history geek takes you for a stroll down memory lane and shares stories and interesting nuggets of information that has been discovered along the way. From tales of tragedy and sadness to epic stories of human courage or creativity, there are many people in history who have made their mark, however small. If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to share or leave feedback. It all helps! Keep in touch via either Twitter or Facebook by using @BackTrackerUK read less
HistoryHistory

Season 5

The Murderous Bank Robber
Jan 8 2024
The Murderous Bank Robber
The Murderous Bank Robber Season: 5 Episode: 2 It was a normal Friday afternoon in Knowle, Bristol, when a man was spotted acting suspiciously near the Lloyds Bank. Little did they know that the day would end with a robbery of £1,444 which would spark a nationwide manhunt, and a murder still unsolved 66 years laterCASTJohn Rowe - Tony AllenMurderer - Joe WilsonChief Det. Supt F. Carter - Steve YeoDr Hassan - Steve SheperdPolice Officer - Marcus KP THIS PODCASTThis podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.comSome more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT MEEmail: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUK-SOURCESThe National ArchivesSunday Mail (Glasgow) - Sunday 09 January 1949Bradford Observer - Thursday 13 January 1949Gloucester Citizen - Thursday 10 March 1949Lincolnshire Echo - Thursday 15 September 1949Western Morning News - Friday 16 September 1949Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Friday 23 September 1949Daily Mirror - Friday 23 September 1949-Sound Effects by zapsplat.comIntro music by The Model Folk Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2024
The Amazing Victoria Drummond (Part Two)
Jan 22 2024
The Amazing Victoria Drummond (Part Two)
The Amazing Victoria Drummond (Part Two) Season: 5 Episode: 4 Victoria Drummond was the first female marine engineer in the UK and the first British woman to serve as chief engineer with the Merchant Navy, but all this was earned through sheer determination and a driving force to spend her life doing what she loved, regardless of the perceived boundaries. In this episode, we look at how she won her M.B.E for bravery and the latter part of her inspirational life. CASTVictoria Drummond - Rose HaylesTHIS PODCASTThis podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.comSome more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT MEEmail: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUK-SOURCESThe Remarkable Life of Victoria Drummond, Marine Engineer - Cherry Drummond. Institute of Marine Engineers, 1994National Records of ScotlandLiverpool MuseumAncestryHistory Extra-Sound Effects by zapsplat.comIntro music by The Model Folk Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2024
The Babbacombe Murder Mystery (Part One)
Feb 19 2024
The Babbacombe Murder Mystery (Part One)
The Babbacombe Murder Mystery (Part One) Season: 5 Episode: 7 Emma Anne Whitehead Keyse was a single lady of 68 years old. She was born in Edmonton, London, in 1816. She lived at The Glen with four helpers. One of them was John Lee, who did various jobs. Elizabeth Harris was the cook, and she had asked Emma to give her half-brother, John Lee, a job a few months before. The other helpers were Jane and Eliza Neck, who were sisters and had worked for Emma for over 40 years. Saturday, the 15th February 1884 would be a day that would change the household forever. Listen to part one of this amazing story and try to decide for yourself what could have possibly happened.CASTJohn Lee - Steve YeoElizabeth Harris - Kate KendellExpress and Echo - Cerise ReedFrank Patterson - Steve SheperdTHIS PODCASTThis podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.comSome more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT MEEmail: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUK-SOURCESCumbernauld News - Thursday 23 December 1971 [1]Sunday Post - Sunday 22 December 1946Western Morning News - Thursday 20 November 1884Illustrated London News - Saturday 29 November 1884Epsom Journal - Tuesday 09 December 1884Aberdeen Press and Journal - Saturday 07 February 1885Leeds Mercury - Friday 20 December 1907North Devon Journal - Thursday 28 January 1909AncestryFind-A-Grave-Sound Effects by zapsplat.comIntro music by The Model Folk Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2024
The Babbacombe Murder Mystery (Part Two)
Feb 26 2024
The Babbacombe Murder Mystery (Part Two)
The Babbacombe Murder Mystery (Part Two) Season: 5 Episode: 8 Saturday, the 15th February 1884 saw the fateful murder of 68 year old, Emma Anne Whitehead Keyse at The Glen in Babbacombe in Devon. All the evidence pointed to just one suspect, 21 year old John Henry George Lee, the Butler and general handyman.Listen to the account of his trial and discover what made this particular crime stand out in history and inspire an album bu Fairport ConventionCASTJohn Lee - Steve YeoBath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette & The Scotsman- Cerise ReedGerald de Courcy Hamilton - Steve SheperdSir William Harcourt - Tony AllenTHIS PODCASTThis podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.comSome more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT MEEmail: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUK-SOURCESCumbernauld News - Thursday 23 December 1971 [1]Sunday Post - Sunday 22 December 1946Western Morning News - Thursday 20 November 1884Illustrated London News - Saturday 29 November 1884Epsom Journal - Tuesday 09 December 1884Aberdeen Press and Journal - Saturday 07 February 1885Leeds Mercury - Friday 20 December 1907North Devon Journal - Thursday 28 January 1909AncestryFind-A-Grave-Sound Effects by zapsplat.comIntro music by The Model Folk Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2024
200th Anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Mar 4 2024
200th Anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
200th Anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Season: 5 Episode: 9 In total, across the UK and Ireland, 146,452 lives have been saved by the RNLI – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years. Founded in a London tavern on 4 March 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars.  The charity has a strong presence in the south west with 33 lifeboat stations and 89 lifeguarded beaches during the summer season.In this episode, we take a look at the founding story behind this national institution.CASTSir William Hillary - Steve YeoCaptain Thomas Jones - Steve SheperdAdmiralty - Marcus KPRNLI Resolutions - Rose HaylesTHIS PODCASTThis podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.comSome more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT MEEmail: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUK-SOURCESRoyal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboatsThe Association of Dunkirk Little ShipsLiverpool Journal of Commerce - Saturday 02 May 1936-Sound Effects by zapsplat.comIntro music by The Model Folk Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2024
The Murdering Cousin
Mar 18 2024
The Murdering Cousin
The Murdering Cousin Season: 5 Episode: 11 Cyril Victor Tennyson Saunders a former lance corporal in the Royal Engineers and he had been in a relationship with his cousin, Dorothy May Saunders, nicknamed Bubbles, for two years and they had plans to marry.After a pregnancy scare and the death of her father, Dorothy changed her mind about marriage. Cyril was devastated and vowed to get her to reconsider, with dire consequences.CASTDorothy May Saunders - Rose HaylesCyril Saunders - Molly JefferiesPolice Report - Steve YeoBetty Lawrence - Sam RobertsPrivate J.J Boote - Joe WilsonPrison Notice - Steve SheperdTHIS PODCASTThis podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.comSome more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT MEEmail: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUK-SOURCESWestern Evening Herald - Thursday 23 September 1920Western Morning News - Friday 24 September 1920Daily News (London) - Friday 24 September 1920Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 02 October 1920Westminster Gazette - Tuesday 30 November 1920British ExecutionsUK, Calendar of Prisoners, 1868-1929-Sound Effects by zapsplat.comIntro music by The Model Folk Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2024
James Holloway & The Rye House Plot
Apr 8 2024
James Holloway & The Rye House Plot
James Holloway & The Rye House Plot Season: 5 Episode: 14 In May 1684, authorities in Bristol received a package from London. They never dreamed that it would be the head dismembered body of a Bristolian linen draper.James was hard working and strove to make the most of his business but during his endeavours, he begad mixing with a crowd who had other plans on their minds. That of removing King Charles II from the throne in favour of someone, more beneficial to themselves.CASTKing James Marcus KPJames Holloway Joe WilsonChief Justice Jeffreys Steve SheperdElizabeth Gaunt Sam RobertsTHIS PODCASTThis podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.comSome more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT MEEmail: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUK-SOURCESBloody British History: Bristol     By Valerie PittDundee, Perth, and Cupar Advertiser - Friday 29 December 1848Ordnance SurveyHistoric England-Sound Effects by zapsplat.comIntro music by The Model Folk Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2024
St Peter's Hospital: Workhouse and Asylum
5d ago
St Peter's Hospital: Workhouse and Asylum
St Peter's Hospital: Workhouse and Asylum Season: 5 Episode: 15 Situated between St Peter's churchyard and the River Avon, the building occupied a strategic location. Tragically, on the fateful night of November 24, 1940, the entire area fell victim to devastating bombing raids. If you'd walked the narrow roads before the raids though, you would have come across a 14th century manor house. this building had so much history embedded in it's structure having gone from palatial home to asylum. Listen to find out more about St Peter's Hospital.CASTLunacy Commissioners - Rose HayleThe Commissioners - Steve SheperdDr James Cowles Prichard - Joe WilsonPoetic Satire - Steve YeoTHIS PODCASTThis podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.comSome more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT MEEmail: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUK-SOURCES-Sound Effects by zapsplat.comIntro music by The Model Folk Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2024

Season 4

The Battle of Lansdown Hill
Jan 16 2023
The Battle of Lansdown Hill
Season: 4 Episode: 2 A subject suggested by Julian Humphrys from Surrey who's a huge history fan. It also happens to be the 380th anniversary of this significant event. If the the outcome had been different, history as we know it would be considerably changed. Sir Ralph Hopton's Royalist forces came across Waller's commanding position on Lansdowne Hill on 4 July and were unpleasantly surprised at its strength. Find out what happened next in one of the most important battles in history!THIS PODCASTThis podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.comSome more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic.com, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT MEEmail: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUK-SOURCESTog hill House FarmBath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Saturday 09 July 1932Bath Field Club, vol. vi., No. 11. (1887), p. 177)"Monarchy versus Parliament: England in the 17th century" André KrowkeBath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Saturday 07 July 1945Encyclopedia BritanicaShoreditch Observer - Saturday 15 December 1883Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 31 March 1864 [2]Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 26 July 1866-Sound Effects by zapsplat.comIntro music by The Model Folk © THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2022
Death at Rode Hill House House
Feb 6 2023
Death at Rode Hill House House
Season: 4 Episode: 5 Sometime during the night of 29—30 June 1860, Francis Saville Kent, who was three years old, disappeared from his father's residence, Rode Hill House, in the village of Rode, then in Wiltshire. Francis' body was later found in the vault of a privy-house on the property. Detective Inspector Jonathan (Jack) Whicher of Scotland Yard was brought in to investigate the murder and he had an inkling who it was straight away but couldn't prove it.The case shocked the nation and had so many twists and turns that it kept the newspapers busy for quite awhile.THIS PODCASTThis podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.comSome more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic.com, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT MEEmail: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUK-SOURCESThe Sunday Sun and Guardian 6 February 1944Historic EnglandNew South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922Find a Grave - Saville KentFind a Grave - Mary Kent-Sound Effects by zapsplat.comIntro music by The Model Folk © THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2023