Today in History - April 24: Germany believed they had a widespread spy network all over the UK. It was just this guy
Attribution: The National Archives
But the Germans did not realise Pujol was concocting complete fictions to undermine the Nazis.
The Spaniard had offered himself as a double-agent to the British at the start of 1941, but was rejected.
Still wanting to help, he signed up to help the Germans and was given espionage training.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
15 hours ago
- West Australian
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh: Air India miracle survivor plagued by nightmares after deadly plane crash
He has been called a 'miracle man' after walking away from the wreckage of the Air India plane that crashed last month, but an update on the wellbeing of British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh paints a bleak picture. Mr Ramesh was the sole survivor of the doomed flight that killed 242 passengers and crew in on June 12. The plane, which took off from India's Ahmedabad Airport, was on its way to London but crashed about 30 seconds after take-off. Mr Ramesh, 40, was seated in 11A, a window seat beside an emergency exit. His brother Ajay, 35, had been seated on the opposite side of the aisle in 11J. Remarkably, in the chaotic moments after the crash, Mr Ramesh managed to crawl out of the burning plane and was captured on video walking, dazed and bloodied, along a street next to the crash site. Later, dramatic footage emerged showing him unsteadily heading back toward the burning wreckage in a desperate bid to find and rescue his brother. Mr Ramesh sustained cuts to his face and body and spent several days in hospital recovering from the ordeal, and was even visited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Now, nearly six weeks on, his family has revealed he his struggling, constantly reliving the horror crash in his nightmares. Krunal Keshave, a member of Mr Ramesh's extended family in Leicester, told UK media, 'He can't sleep at night. He sleeps but doesn't sleep properly. When he sleeps, he dreams he is on the flight. 'He remembers seeing everyone die in front of his eyes.' Mr Ramesh has remained in India as he continues to grieve the loss of his younger brother. 'He sees him everywhere. He speaks but he doesn't speak about the crash,' Mr Keshave, who has just returned to the UK after visiting Mr Ramesh, said. 'His wife and his son are there with him, supporting him. He is currently trying to have a normal life, but he is not going out too much. 'He is spending time at home with the family. He was living in the house in Diu with his brother before the crash.' Another family member said 'He feels guilty that he is the only one to have lived when everybody else, including his brother, died. It's a lot to live with.' In the days after the crash, Mr Ramesh told the Hindustan Times : 'Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly. When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.' An investigation is now zeroing in on the actions of the pilots of the doomed flight, with a preliminary report suggesting the captain may have cut the fuel to the Boeing 787's engines.
Perth Now
15 hours ago
- Perth Now
Sad update for ‘miracle' survivor of Air India disaster
Black box recordings from the fatal Air India crash reveal the experienced pilot was responsible for switching off the plane's fuel, leading to the plane's rapid descent and the death of 260 people. He has been called a 'miracle man' after walking away from the wreckage of the Air India plane that crashed last month, but an update on the wellbeing of British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh paints a bleak picture. Mr Ramesh was the sole survivor of the doomed flight that killed 242 passengers and crew in on June 12. The plane, which took off from India's Ahmedabad Airport, was on its way to London but crashed about 30 seconds after take-off. Mr Ramesh, 40, was seated in 11A, a window seat beside an emergency exit. His brother Ajay, 35, had been seated on the opposite side of the aisle in 11J. Remarkably, in the chaotic moments after the crash, Mr Ramesh managed to crawl out of the burning plane and was captured on video walking, dazed and bloodied, along a street next to the crash site. Vishwash Kumar Ramash miraculously survived the Air India plane crash that claimed the lives of 242 people. Credit: X Later, dramatic footage emerged showing him unsteadily heading back toward the burning wreckage in a desperate bid to find and rescue his brother. Mr Ramesh sustained cuts to his face and body and spent several days in hospital recovering from the ordeal, and was even visited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Now, nearly six weeks on, his family has revealed he his struggling, constantly reliving the horror crash in his nightmares. Krunal Keshave, a member of Mr Ramesh's extended family in Leicester, told UK media, 'He can't sleep at night. He sleeps but doesn't sleep properly. When he sleeps, he dreams he is on the flight. 'He remembers seeing everyone die in front of his eyes.' Mr Ramesh has remained in India as he continues to grieve the loss of his younger brother. 'He sees him everywhere. He speaks but he doesn't speak about the crash,' Mr Keshave, who has just returned to the UK after visiting Mr Ramesh, said. 'His wife and his son are there with him, supporting him. He is currently trying to have a normal life, but he is not going out too much. 'He is spending time at home with the family. He was living in the house in Diu with his brother before the crash.' Another family member said 'He feels guilty that he is the only one to have lived when everybody else, including his brother, died. It's a lot to live with.' Mr Ramesh at his brother Ajay's funeral. Credit: Unknown / X In the days after the crash, Mr Ramesh told the Hindustan Times: 'Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly. When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.' An investigation is now zeroing in on the actions of the pilots of the doomed flight, with a preliminary report suggesting the captain may have cut the fuel to the Boeing 787's engines.
West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
Discovering the meaning behind Manchester's famed symbol
I'm in Manchester and I'm surrounded by bees. They're on benches, bollards, buildings and bins. Look up to see them on lampposts. Look down to see them on the footpath. As I step out of Manchester Cathedral, an impressive sculptural rendition catches my eye. Across the road, there's a mural of them as well — just before a tram glides past, also bearing their image. The humble insect has been a symbol of the vibrant north-western English city since it was added to the Manchester coat of arms in 1842. The small details of a destination can offer a glimpse into the true fabric of a society. Hidden in plain sight, they quietly shape the character of a place. This rings true in the metropolitan city home to nearly three million people. Manchester embraces the worker bee as a proud emblem of its industrial identity. Unlike other British cities that made their wealth through royalty or natural resources, Manchester owes its rise to the hardworking nature of its citizens during the industrial revolution. Even part of Greater Manchester's transport system takes its name from the insect. Next time you visit, keep an eye out for the Bee Network — marked by its distinctive yellow and black buses, trams, cycling routes and walking paths. It may no longer be Cottonopolis, but you don't have to spend long in Manchester to see it's still a thriving hive of activity. The streets buzz with the rhythm of daily life. Footsteps echoing between red-brick buildings, the chatter of students spilling out of cafes and cyclists weaving through traffic. When wandering through the Central Library in St Peter's Square, I couldn't help but notice how its top floor, named the Great Hall, resembles a beehive in library form, with people busily working away at their desks. Worker bees are solely insignificant but collectively formidable — a fitting symbol for the thousands of factory workers who were cogs in the wheel of the world's first industrial city. For those curious to learn more about various aspects of Manchester's industrial history, here are four places you can visit. The National Trust property is one of Britain's greatest industrial heritage sites. Located in Styl, near Manchester Airport, the beautifully preserved cotton mill was one of the first water-propelled spinning mills to be built during the early years of the Industrial Revolution, in 1784. Owned by the Greg family and home to hundreds of mill workers and child apprentices, Quarry Bank quickly became one of the largest cotton manufacturing businesses in the world. You can explore inside the mill and watch its machinery in action. It's rather noisy in there but a fascinating experience nonetheless. The Quarry Bank House, once home to owners Hannah and Samuel Greg, is also worth a visit. There's also the Styl village, the Apprentice House (where child workers lived), the gardens and woodland estate to explore. Opening times vary between attractions. The Oxford Road museum is part of the University of Manchester, and it has a dedicated textiles gallery connecting art and early industrial links. It's home to 20,000 textiles from around the globe, ranging from the third century AD to the present. Textiles play a massive part in Manchester's industrial history given its status as the international centre of the cotton and textile trade in the 19th century. The city was nicknamed 'Cottonopolis' for its more than 100 cotton mills producing an astounding amount of cloth. Between 1800 and 1860, Britain's cotton exports reportedly rose from £5.4 million ($11.2m) to £46.8 million ($97m) as the country produced almost half the world's total output of cotton. Whitworth is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, and on Thursdays until 9pm. For those interested in Manchester's contribution to the development of science, technology and industry, visiting the Science and Industry Museum is a must. It showcases just how pivotal the city was in the wider Industrial Revolution. Its Textiles Gallery has an array of historic machinery used in cotton mills in England's north-west. The museum often hosts demonstrations to tell the story of how cotton was transformed from its raw form into finished cloth. Though they came after the Industrial Revolution, two interesting objects in the museum's Manchester Revolution exhibition are worth checking out. The first is a small-scale experimental machine affectionately known as the 'Manchester Baby'. Built in 1948 at the University of Manchester, it was the first computer to store and run a program from memory — the basis for billions of computers today. The second is a Rolls-Royce made in 1905 which was one of the first Rolls-Royce motorcars ever built. The now internationally renowned company originated in Manchester. Open daily from 10am to 5pm. Last but not least is the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester. In a historic 1901 tram shed and 1930s bus garage, the museum showcases a fascinating insight into how public transport evolved alongside industrial growth, with more than 70 vintage vehicles to see, from horse-drawn carriages to early buses and trams. There's also a tearoom and gift shop on-site. Open Wednesdays and weekends, 10am to 4.30pm.
