THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Constantinople had the biggest thrill since the arrival of the British, when a battalion landed near the Galata bridge and marched up the hill to Pera, headed by a band playing the cheery and opportune melody, “Take me back to dear old Blighty.” Their progress caused almost as much excitement as the arrival of an army. They looked very well and fit, in spite of long and hard campaigning and groups of German officers and soldiers en route surveyed them with an appraising eye.

50 years ago

The 12,000-ton Shell tanker Aulica collided with the west roundhead of Camperdown Dock entrance while berthing at Dundee late yesterday afternoon. The stout wooden timbers splintered like matchwood and the Aulica’s bows penetrated the concrete at the east end of Queen Elizabeth Wharf. Before the “bump” both the tanker’s anchors had been dropped. She was pulled clear of the roundhead and her stern swung round near the Beacon and Fowler rocks.

25 years ago

A boost for the cold weather payments scheme is to be announced next week, the Prime Minister said yesterday. He was responding at Commons question time to a call to look again at the working of the system of cash help for vulnerable people during spells of sub-zero temperatures. Mr Major said the Government would build on its record of “quick and efficient” assistance. He promised: “We will, of course, enhance the present cold weather payments scheme.”

One year ago

Dundee’s dream of being crowned European Capital of Culture 2023 has ended in heartbreak after the European Commission announced no UK cities could compete after Brexit. The director general of the commission’s culture department wrote to the UK Government, informing them that, contrary to belief, a bid for the title would not be possible following the country’s decision to leave the European Union. Officials at Dundee 2023, said they were “hugely disappointed” by the decision.