THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Mr J. Livesay, Canadian correspondent writes: “Early this morning Canadian troops penetrated Cambrai and are now in complete possession of the city. Thus has fulfilled the legitimate ambition of the Canadian Corps for the achievement of which they have been fighting hard ever since they stormed the Canal du Nord and took Bourlon Wood on September 27. Even if the Imperial troops had had the good fortune to capture the city, its fall must still have been attributed to the Canadian Corps.

50 years ago

The Rhodesian leader, Mr Ian Smith, flew into Gibraltar last night and met Mr Harold Wilson for what Mr Smith said was probably the last chance to solve the independence problem. Arriving for a shipboard conference with Mr Wilson he was asked if he thought this was the last time an opportunity would arise for a settlement. “You mean is this the last, last time,” Mr Smith replied. “I believe there have been about a dozen so far. But I’ve got the feeling that this is the last.”

25 years ago

Paula Spence, from Fife, is trying to get to the bottom of a problem affecting her tea-drinking African Grey parrot. Two-year-old Taffy, who originated in Wales, has been subject to recurring attacks of cracking on his beak. Paula, from the village of Dunshalt, is convinced that the problem lies with her local water supply. Expert analysis has been carried out on the water by North East Fife District Council and Fife Regional Council. However, it has been declared eminently drinkable.

One year ago

More than 150 Tayside and Fife ambulance staff have been assaulted in the course of their duties in the past five years, a Courier probe has found. The figures, described as “grotesque” by a Tayside MSP, include workers being spat at, punched, kicked and threatened with knives and bottles. There have also been three instances of members of the public trying to kill Scottish Ambulance Service personnel since 2012. In all, 154 physical and verbal assaults were committed.