December Collection (page 90)

Riot / Birmingham / 1901
The Political Riot at Birmingham Town Hall during Lloyd Georges meeting. This illustration shows the Police baton charge. Lloyd George escaped in policemans clothes

Jack Cades Cavern, near Blackheath

1878 / AFGHAN WAR
The 8th Kings Regiment make their way up the Peiwar Kotul, attacking enemy positions

Victor Stiebel / Leinster
Photograph of Agness Rafelle, Duchess of Leinster wearing a stunning black bias cut evening gown by Victor Stiebel, trimmed with arum lilies

Battle of Colenso
At COLENSO, the Boers are in a strong position to repel Buller when he makes a brave attack on their position, forcing him to retire with heavy losses

Edward III Coronation
EDWARD III KING OF ENGLAND His coronation in Westminster Abbey, at the age of 15

German Revolution
The German Revolution. The Soldiers Council sitting in the Reichstag, Berlin

Clovis Baptised (3)
Clovis, Merovingian king of the Franks, converts to Christianity after defeating the Alemanni at TOLBIAC, as he promised his wife Clothilde he would do

Xmas in German Trench
Stille Nacht ! German soldiers celebrate Christmas in the trenches (but published a fortnight before Christmas day !)

Germans Born Soldiers
Der Deutsche ist der geborene Soldat - Germans are born soldiers... (NOTE : this is a PRO-German cartoon, not an ANTI-German !)

Germany Offers Homerule
Germany offers Ireland home rule, in the event of a German victory - and in return for Irish co-operation !

Peoples Naval Division
Men of the Peoples Naval Division in the Marstall Building, Berlin, during the German Revolution

Promoting Land in Poland
A supplement to the Jewish Rundschau promoting the land of Palestine

Wilkes Riots 1768
Scene in the streets of London during the Wilkes and liberty rioting, when enthusiastic Londoners demonstrate their support for the rejected radical MP

Devilish Funny Ha Ha
In Vienna statuettes of the devil are sold on 1 December but when an artist makes a life-size one for a client, returning late one night, he jumps from the window

Tank Liberates Village
LIBERATION SCENES Liberated village in December offensive. The tank is a Russian T-34

Wright 1903 (Parisien)
The first flight : Kitty Hawk

Fighting Near Moscow
A counter-offensive by Soviets on the outskirts of Moscow prevents the Germans from reaching the city

Liberated Village
Village in the Stalingrad district, liberated in the course of the December 1942 offensive. The tank is a Russian T-34

With Eugenie at Windsor
Victoria somewhat diffidently welcomes the empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, to Windsor Castle

Invincible & Inflexible
At the Battle of the Falkland Islands, British cruisers Invincible and Inflexible leave Port Stanley to join the rest of the fleet

Leipzig Sinking 1914
During the Battle of the Falkland Islands, German vessel Leipzig sinks with great loss of life after a relentless British attack

Reading War News Moscow
Muscovites, with the Germans on the outskirts of their city, read the latest news about the battle for Moscow

Strike Leaders Arrested
Arrest of strike leaders at Saint Petersburg

Angel Shops with Car
An angel does her Christmas shopping and loads it into the car, with her chauffeurs help

DADs ARMY
Two members of the Home Guard (employees of Drayton Paper Works, Fulham, London)

Christmas scene at the Evelina Childrens Hospital
Christmas comes but once a year -- a scene at the Evelina Childrens Hospital, founded in Southwark, London, in 1869. A sick little girl is visited by her mother and younger sister

Bank closes its doors in Brooklyn, USA
Following the Wall Street crash of 1929, the Brooklyn branch of the Bank of the United States closes its doors. A crowd of people have gathered outside, no doubt wanting their money back

Converts to Christianity
Clovis, Merovingian King of the Franks, defeats the Alemanni at Tolbiac, near Koln, and consequently converts to Christianity as he promised his wife Clothilde

Shortest Day 1886
The Shortest Day: Everyone gathers around the fire as twilight turns to night

Stile and marker arrow on footpath along the River Severn, in December, near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, UK, Europe

Transvaal daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
Transvaal daisy flower ( Gerbera jamesonii ).Photographed in December

Sketch Christmas
Patriotic front cover illustration from the Sketch 1914 showing a British officer in khaki uniform accompanied by two fashionably dressed young women

Father & Mother Christmas riding a reindeer
Jolly illustration for the Christmas issue front cover of the Bystander showing Father Christmas riding a reindeer through a snowy landscape. A lady, possibly Mother Christmas, rides pillion

Ms - Shepherds Informed
An angel tells the shepherds that Jesus has been born - illustration to a 12th century German manuscript

Napoleon in Madrid
Napoleon is Welcomed into Madrid

Fireball at Cartagena
A great globe of fire, in the space of some minutes, broke into four lesser balls, which flew off towards the four cardinal points, attended with a clap of thunder

Moreno Assassinated
Garcia Moreno, Catholic president of Ecuador, is assassinated on the steps of his palace by the saddler Rayo, hired - say the Catholics - by the Masons

Russia / 1917 / Factory
Workers take over the running of a factory

Harrow Teacher Retiring
Mr Pope receives a hearty send off from his Harrow boys when he retires. They wave their straw boaters in the air

Toulon Evacuated 1793
SIEGE OF TOULON In the face of a fierce siege (in which the young Napoleon participates) the British are forced to evacuate Toulon

French Take Namur
NAMUR The French army, moving into Belgium, take the citadels of Namur

Alexander at Plevna
BATTLE OF PLEVNA : Alexander, king of Romania, commander of the Russian forces, watches the action in which the Turks under Osman Pasha are finally defeated and have to retreat

Papal Jubilee 1865
Pope Pius IX tells cardinals, archbishops and bishops that next year - 1865 - will be a Jubilee Year

Housing Shortage / 1922
Housing shortage - a former largerkeller becomes a home with cardboard windows

Edward Viii / Abdication
EDWARD VIII ABDICATION Front cover of the published transcript of his abdication speech

Amundsen / Polar Dress
Roald Amundsen, the first to reach the South Pole, did so on 14 December 1911 and returned home safely. Amundsen in his polardragt (pole-dress)

Amundsen / Supply Depot
Roald Amundsen, the first to reach the South Pole, did so on 14 December 1911 and returned home safely. Sledge at a supply depot

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"December: A Kaleidoscope of Moments and Memories" As the year draws to a close, December unveils its vibrant colors like a mesmerizing rainbow illustration by Arthur Ferrier. It paints the world with hues of hope and reflection, reminding us of the beauty that exists even in the darkest times. In this month of festivities, our hearts find solace within "A House Full" by Cecil Aldin. Warmth fills every corner as loved ones gather, creating cherished memories that will forever be etched in our souls. Like an Earthrise photograph turned artwork, December brings moments of awe-inspiring unity. We remember the Christmas Truce of 1914 during WW1 when enemies laid down their weapons to celebrate peace together. It serves as a reminder that humanity's capacity for compassion can transcend even the harshest conflicts. Yet amidst such harmony, there are reminders of struggle and sacrifice. The sight of a German Panzer tank from 1944 or British guns dashing through French towns reminds us of those who fought bravely for freedom and justice. It also marks new beginnings and aspirations for higher education. As students embark on their academic journeys, they carry dreams that will shape their futures like Don Bradman going out to bat for the last time in Melbourne Cricket Ground – determination radiating from his every step. Just as Apollo 17 astronauts ventured into space with curiosity and courage, we too embrace December's spirit of exploration. It encourages us to reach beyond our limits and discover new frontiers within ourselves. However, history is not without its scars; it bears witness to human suffering like "The Bombardment of Hartlepools" captured by James Clark. These somber events remind us never to forget past atrocities so we may strive towards a future free from violence and injustice. On HMS Albion (R07), once used as a Commando Carrier, bravery permeates every deck – a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who protect and serve.