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In 1944, Nazi stormtrooper Heinrich Steinmeyer was caught by the British hiding in a foxhole in Normandy. The British probably expected Steinmeyer to put up a fight. Instead, he surrendered. But Steinmeyer was amazed by the kindness shown by the British soldiers after they had told him to...

It's amazing what you can discover in ancient England's soil. When 55-year-old Terry Herbert searched for artefacts in a Staffordshire field, he wasn't optimistic of finding much. But his £2.50 metal detector discovered what is the largest haul of Anglo-Saxon artefacts ever discovered. The...

A new British movie about Charles Darwin may bomb in the US as it may be too controversial for religious Americans. The film - which marks 200 years since Darwin's birth - is set at the time that Darwin wrote his book On The Origin of Species, which was published in 1859. But US distributors...

A sadistic mother who stabbed to death her two teenaged daughters has been told she must serve at least 31 years behind bars. Rekha Kumari-Baker, 41, stabbed Davina, 16, and Jasmine, 13, a total of 69 times with kitchen knives she had purchased two days earlier. Cambridge Crown Court told...

For 124 years, from 1838 to 1962, it stood proudly at the entrance to Euston Station, even surviving German zeppelin raids and attacks from the Luftwaffe. Then, in 1962, it was controversially demolished to make way for a modern train station. It was 70 feet high and was the world's biggest...

Famous faces in the world of football gathered at the magnificent 11th century Durham Cathedral, one of Europe's great buildings, on Monday to pay respect to one of the sport's most popular men. Former England, Ipswich, Newcastle and Barcelona manager Sir Bobby Robson passed away from cancer...

For the second time in six months, English historian David Starkey has launched a broadside against the Scots. Six months ago he accused Scotland of being a "feeble little nation" that likes to revel in failure (and when it comes to sport, they have plenty of opportunity). One of their few...

The first Manchester derby of the season was probably the most eagerly-awaited for years, and it certainly didn't disappoint. So much happened, you could probably write a book on it. It was a great advert for the English Premier League, and will do no damage to its claims as being the fastest...

Britain's Ministry of Defence ordered an investigation of thousands of UFO sightings in the 1990s to examine whether alien spaceship technology could be exploited to build advanced engines for the RAF, according to a new book. A wing commander initiated the project in 1993 because he believed...

The Scottish Government created a stir recently, especially in America, over the controversial release of the Lockerbie Bomber. Now it's at the centre of a storm again over allegation of rigging a referendum over Scottish independence. In 1999, devolution was partially introduced to Britain...

At first glance, it may look like some gigantic terror bird is terrorising people at famous British locations, including Piccadilly Circus. But in fact Kai the hawk loves flying around a model village. At the Babbacombe Model Village in Devon, Kai protects the scale model buildings from...

At just 18, Rifleman William Aldridge is the youngest British soldier to have been killed so far in Afghanistan. He was killed by a Taliban bomb on 10th July. Before his death, he took many photos on his camera whilst in Afghanistan, photos he took of himself and some of his comrades, some of...

What do you think are the most important events in history? Well, the BBC History Magazine has asked 12 historians what they are the great leaps for mankind. These leaps include the discovery of blood circulation in England, the invention of democracy in Greece, the Magna Carta, the founding...

If you've ever wanted to go on a "history tour", visiting various locations where an historical event occurred, then one of the best you can go on is a tour of the sites of the Norman Conquest. Being an ancient nation, England is a treasure trove of beautiful and magnificent buildings. Many of...

Not long ago, Britain had both and King AND a Queen. King George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions from December 1936 to February 1952. Alongside him was his wife, Queen Elizabeth, Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions. George VI died in February...

From Friday 31st August to Friday 9th November 1888, the mysterious Jack the Ripper stalked the filthy, gas-lit streets of Whitechapel, east London, then the world's largest city. Why Jack stopped killing after 9th November is, of course, a mystery. His (or, even, her) five victims - Mary Anne...

England's Italian manager, Fabio Capello, has guided England to 8 wins out of 8 in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, 31 goals for, 5 against, and a maximum 24 points from those games. England have qualified with ease, and with two games to spare. Capello has now said that his dream would be for...

It's amazing how World War II can still put people's lives at risk, 64 years after it ended. When Paul Davies was digging in his garden in Exeter, Devon, he came across a small metallic object. Thinking it was a piece of machinery, he took it into his house where his friend took a picture of...

During the winter and new year period, the central courtyard of the glorious 18th century Somerset House, on the Strand overlooking the Thames in central London, is home to an ice skating rink. And stunning it is, too, seeing hundreds of people skating in the courtyard of a classic building at...

Germany may be the largest EU state (population wise) with its largest economy, but that's no excuse for it to act like the boss and order people about (we fought a World War so we didn't have to take orders from the Germans). Due to recent events, the British often tend to view the Germans...