The BackTracker History Show

More Albert Medal Heroes Season: 7 Episode: 34 Today, we’re going back to the stories of some remarkable people who found themselves in extraordinary situations, and chose to put their own lives at risk to save others. We’ve already heard about a few recipients of the Albert Medal, but there are many more stories worth telling. Some faced enemy fire, others disasters, accidents or impossible condi...

The Albert Medal (Part Two) Season: 7 Episode: 33 The Albert Medal was a very special British award for extraordinary bravery, particularly for saving lives. Created in 1866 and named after Prince Albert, it was rarely given, making it a hugely prestigious honour. In 1971, it was replaced by the George Cross. In the episode, we take a look at more extraordinary acts of bravery that earned the Albe...

The Albert Medal (Part One) Season: 7 Episode: 32 The Albert Medal was one of Britain’s highest awards for bravery. Created in 1866 and named after Prince Albert, it recognised extraordinary acts of courage, particularly saving lives when no military action was involved. It was awarded for bravery both at sea and on land, but was rarely given, making it a very special honour. THIS PODCAST This pod...

Edward Kelley: The English Alchemist Season: 7 Episode: 31 What happens when a respected Elizabethan scholar becomes convinced he can speak to angels, and the mysterious man claiming to communicate with them turns out to have a talent for more than just the supernatural? This is the extraordinary story of John Dee and Edward Kelley, a partnership involving crystal balls, secret languages, alchemy,...

Accident or Murder? Season: 7 Episode: 30 In 1942, Bristol soldier Frederick James Austin was accused of murdering his young wife, Lilian, with a service rifle in their home. Austin insisted the shooting was a tragic accident, but evidence presented in court raised serious questions about his story. What really happened that day would ultimately lead to a murder conviction, an appeal, and the deat...

The Welsh Tank Hero Season: 7 Episode: 29 Captain Richard William Leslie Wain VC was a soldier whose story is one of extraordinary courage under fire. During the First World War, his actions earned him the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military decoration for bravery. But behind the medal is a remarkable story of courage, sacrifice and determination, and today we’re going to find out what happ...

From Doctor To Patient (Part Two) Season: 7 Episode: 28 Dr. James Pownall's story is one of Victorian Britain's most remarkable mental health cases. A respected surgeon, asylum owner and former mayor of Calne, he suffered recurring bouts of severe mental illness that transformed his personality. CAST Lucretia Pownall - Cerise Reed Sergeant Pope - Guy Pass Patient Notes - Andrea Reid Dr Davey - Ste...

From Doctor To Patient (Part One) Season: 7 Episode: 27 Dr Pownall was a surgeon, asylum owner and former mayor of Calne whose recurring mental illness ended in tragedy. After being discharged from Northwoods Asylum as "recovered", he murdered his servant, Louisa Cook, and spent the rest of his life in Broadmoor, where he died in 1882. Behind the headlines lay a story of bitter disagreements betwe...

The Pioneering WPC Season: 7 Episode: 26 Rosa was a trailblazing police officer who transferred from Bristol to Gloucestershire Constabulary in 1927 because she could ride a motorbike, an extraordinary skill for a woman at the time. Stationed at Staple Hill from 1928 to 1936, she broke new ground while investigating a series of high-profile cases that regularly captured the attention of the local...

The Crimes & Death of Phoebe Harris Season: 7 Episode: 25 In the summer of 1786, thousands of people gathered outside Newgate Prison to witness the execution of Phoebe Harris. Convicted of a serious offence at the Old Bailey, she became the focus of one of the largest public spectacles of the year. Her case attracted widespread attention, from the dramatic police raid that led to her arrest to the...

BTP724. SS Stella (Part Two) Season: 7 Episode: 24 Often called the "Titanic of the Channel Islands", the SS Stella met a tragic end when it struck the Casquets reef in thick fog on Easter Thursday 1899. In Part Two, we move beyond the disaster itself to explore the remarkable personal stories of those who lived through it, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. From the courage of stewardess...

The Sinking of the S.S Stella Season: 7 Episode: 23 On Easter Thursday 1899, the SS Stella set sail from Southampton bound for Guernsey. Just hours later, in thick fog, the luxury passenger steamer struck the notorious Casquets reef and sank within minutes, claiming more than 100 lives in one of Britain's worst Victorian maritime disasters. CAST Mr James Parton - Steve Sheperd Man in Dinghy - Guy...

Postman's Park Season: 7 Episode: 22 Postman’s Park is a peaceful green oasis in the heart of the City of London, free for everyone to enjoy. Tucked away from the surrounding busy streets, it is best known for its moving Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice, which honours ordinary people who lost their lives while saving others. CAST George Watts - Steve Sheperd Alice's Memorial - Sam Roberts Mandell...

The Tragic Murder of Alice Hole Season: 7 Episode: 21 The murder of Alice Hole sent shockwaves through Bristol, becoming one of the city's most talked-about crimes of the Victorian era. As news of the killing spread through the narrow streets of Temple, horror quickly turned to fascination. By morning, crowds had gathered, rumours were rife, and newspapers carried lurid accounts of the tragedy. Be...

Victorian Street Sweepers Season: 7 Episode: 20 Before modern roads and pavements, crossing a busy city street could be filthy, dangerous, and sometimes impossible without help. In the crowded towns and cities of the 19th century, horse-drawn traffic left roads thick with mud, waste, and grime, creating an opportunity for one of Victorian Britain’s most overlooked jobs, the crossing sweeper. CAST...

Christina Keith: Frontline Teacher Season: 7 Episode: 19 She crossed into a shattered world few dared to witness. In the final days of the First World War, Scottish academic and author Christina Keith travelled to France, not as a soldier, but as a lecturer sent to inspire weary troops standing in the shadow of history’s bloodiest conflict. But what she encountered would stay with her forever. As...

Capt. Bertram Dickson: Aviating Pioneer Season: 7 Episode: 18 Captain Bertram Dickson FRGS, RHA, was one of the great daredevils of the early flying age, a pioneering Scottish aviator who became the first British serviceman to earn a pilot’s licence. At a time when flight was still dangerous and experimental, Dickson thrilled crowds with his fearless displays in fragile aircraft of wood and canvas...

Inverness Season: 7 Episode: 17 In this week's show, we’re heading to the Scottish Highlands, to the city of Inverness and its striking landmark, Inverness Castle. Overlooking the River Ness, this historic site has witnessed centuries of power struggles, royal intrigue, and legend. From medieval beginnings to its place in stories like that of Macbeth, Inverness and its castle hold a rich and drama...

The Horfield Horror Season: 7 Episode: 16 In 1841, Horfield was rocked by the violent murder of Martha Shedden, a crime that drew intense attention across the country. Suspicion fell on a young former servant, and the case quickly became tangled in conflicting witness accounts and uncertain evidence. As the investigation unfolded, it raised more questions than answers, leaving the truth of what ha...

Titanic’s Bristolians (pt2) Season: 7 Episode: 15 In Part One of this tale, we covered the life and death of Rev. Robert Bateman. A man born in Bristol who emigrated to America and used his skills as a preacher and stonemason to help make a difference in the lives of many people. In this episode, we cover the tale of his Sister-in-Law, Ada Balls, who was encouraged to travel with him to America on...

Titanic's Bristolians Season: 7 Episode: 14 Among the thousands who departed from Southampton, bound for a new life in America, was one man whose story embodies both the hope and the heartbreak of that journey, Red. Robert James Bateman. As the great liner pushed across the Atlantic, everything changed in a single, devastating moment, when an iceberg tore through her hull, sealing her fate, and th...

Death in the Beaufort Arms Season: 7 Episode: 13 On Saturday 20 July 1878, an ordinary evening at the Beaufort Arms in Barton Hill, Bristol, turned deadly, when a gathering of local workers, including Alfred Theophilus Freeguard and Frank Ferris, erupted into violence. CAST Edwin Jones - Simon Criddle Frank Ferris - Jon Locke Alfred Freeguard - Guy Pass Witness’s brother - Julian Kendell John Sout...

Two Social Reformers Season: 7 Episode: 12 Susanna Morgan and Jessie Stephen were two determined voices for change, social reformers who challenged injustice and fought to improve the lives of others, from campaigning for women’s rights to standing up for workers and the vulnerable, their efforts helped shape a fairer society and left a lasting mark on history. CAST Staffordshire Advertiser - Andr...

The Seven Stars Pub Season: 7 Episode: 11 Hidden in Redcliffe, Bristol, the Seven Stars pub isn’t just a place for a pint—it’s a site of history. In the late eighteenth century, its landlord, William Thompson, quietly helped sailors returning from brutal Atlantic voyages and welcomed the abolitionist Thomas Clarkson as he gathered evidence against the slave trade. From this unassuming tavern, stor...

Young Gentleman Harry Season: 7 Episode: 10 From petty theft to highway robbery, the life of Henry Simms was a whirlwind of crime, deception, and daring escapes. Schemes, robberies, and a fabricated tales kept him in the spotlight until his dramatic final moments at Tyburn. This article explores the chaotic life and notorious end of one of the eighteenth century’s most audacious criminals. CAST Ge...