- On this day in 1963. The Great Train Robbery in England occurs, in which £2.6m is stolen in used, untraceable bank notes. For 125 years, The Post Office train, known as the Up Special, had run its nightly service. On this day the train was carrying over 26 million pounds ($AU75.5 million) in used, untraceable bank notes destined for burning at the Bank of England, when it was stopped by a red light at 3:15am local time in Buckinghamshire. Police investigators found that the signals had been tampered with and the telephone wires had been cut. After the train was stopped, thieves attacked driver Jack Mills, 58, with an iron bar, uncoupled the engine and front two carriages and drove them to Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn, near Mentmore. There they load 120 mail and money bags into a waiting truck. 13 of the thieves were caught and tried 6 months later. Ronnie Biggs became the best known of the criminals when he escaped from prison and headed for Brazil, remaining free for 28 years.
- On this day in 1988. Princess Beatrice, the first child of Prince Andrew and his wife Sarah, is born. Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York (Beatrice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor), the Queen’s fifth grandchild was born on this day. Princess Beatrice was born at Portland Hospital in London. Her birth was greeted with 41 gun salutes at Hyde Park and Tower Green. (8/8/88)
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Bridego Bridge, Buckinghamshire, England. The scene of the 1963 Great Train Robbery (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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