The Tottenham Outrage 1909
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 18 окт 2024
- The Tottenham Outrage 1909
Another short story about a forgotten moment in British history from Chris Green (The History Chap)
Join my Supporter's Club.
www.thehistory...
What was the Tottenham Outrage of 1909?
Well it wasn't something to do with Tottenham Hotspur football club!
On 23rd January 1909 two Anarchist revolutionaries conducted an armed robbery in Tottenham, north London.
They held up two workers taking the weekly wages to the Schnumann Rubber Factory on the corner of Tottenham High Road and Chestnut Grove.
As they ran off with the £80 wages (approx. £10,000 in today's money) they were chased by the police and a growing band of civilians.
For 6 miles the fugitives used horse & carts and also a tram to try to escape the long arm of the law.
During the chase over 400 rounds were fired (by both sides) and one policeman (PC William Tyler) and a 10 year-old civilian, Ralph Jocelyn, were killed.
A further 7 police and 17 civilians were injured.
In the end the two revolutionaries cum robbers were killed but the money was never recovered.
The funeral of PC William Tyler was attended by 3,000 fellow police officers and it is estimated that 500,000 people lined the two mile funeral route in Tottenham.
The Tottenham Outrage 1909 is a tiny piece of forgotten history.
It is a fascinating story that combines social history, political history and criminal history from a moment when Tottenham was not part of inner London but was almost the boundary between London and the countryside.
The story of the Tottenham Outrage is both comical and sad.
It is where the "The Untouchables" and "The Keystone Cops" meet in Edwardian Britain.
The bravery of the chasing police officers inspired the establishment of the King's Police Medal (now The Queen's Police Medal) for gallantry.
The first recipient was, posthumously, PC William Tyrell.
I hope that enjoy this short story and learning about the Tottenham Outrage 1909.
Support me at: www.thehistory...
#thetottenhamoutrage1909 #thetottenhamoutrage #britishhistory #londonhistory #tramchase
Follow me at:
www.thehistorychap.com
Instagram:bit.ly/3iySrAj
Facebook:bit.ly/37IUfkH
/ thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green ("The History Chap") and I am on a mission to share the amazing history of Britain so that we can appreciate where we have come from and why we are here.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or RUclips animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree and continue to have a passion for the subject I studied.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Back in the 80's I served at Tottenham Police Station and at one point during my probationary period I was tasked with researching this incident and putting together a presentation for local schoolchildren, no Google or Wikipedia back then, I did lots of research at a police archive at Woolwich and the British Newspaper Library in Colindale amongst other sources. I produced a booklet (now sadly lost) and a number of blown up photographic exhibits and items of police equipment and uniform relevant to the period. I also walked the route of the pursuit several times to get a feel for how exhausting it must have been for the pursuers. Had I known that the plaque was going to be put up in 2009 I would have attended. I only found out about that through your video.
One point I would take issue with is the keystone cops reference. this does a great disservice to the determination and bravery displayed by the police and members of the public who were trying to bring violent and muderous criminals to justice.
Thank you for taking the time to share your research
I have a Carnegie Heroes Fund medal in my possession from 1909. I have carried out some research with the fund and others and discovered that it was awarded to PC William Dewhurst for his bravery in the Tottenham Outrage. He and another climbed through the Window of Oak Cottage and led the children to safety. As well as the medal and I think some money he was promoted to Sergeant without examination!. This medal has been passed through my family since at least before the war although nobody know his connection if any to us.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your personal story.
Please make sure to subscribe for future videos.
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
Chris
Yet another gripping story!...i could almost imagine the excitement and fear as they rushed through the streets, and of course, to think of the poor milkman being caught up in it, and his float being ruined....and then of course those heroic Police Officers in chase, brave men one and all!
To think of all this, and nobody (that we know of anyway) benefited from this robbery.
Bravo Sir, another captivating tale of old.
Glad you enjoyed this episode. I hope I don't inspire a treasure hunt in the River Lea! Living near a canal I know how dangerous canals & rivers can be.
What an amazing story of the Tottenham Outrage.. I see what you mean by ‘ keystone cops’ . 40 policemen on a pursuing tram must have been quite a sight. It probably couldn’t happen today, as members of the public might have a different attitude....unless you consider the ‘have a go’ people who stopped the sabre wielding man on London Bridge.
Maybe everyone nowadays would be filming it on their phones! Although the London Bridge incident does prove that every generation throws up heroes.
keystone cops is not the word anyone should use in this tragedy
In 1907 Joseph Conrad published "The Secret Agent" and in 1908 GK Chesterton published "The Man Who Was Thursday". Both novels deal with anarchism in Edwardian London and both give an insight into the attitudes of the time (and both are brilliant in different ways).
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing the details of the books.
Wow another really interesting story, and brilliantly told as usual!
Thank you. I love these forgotten stories from not so long ago. Obviously a major event at the time to have half a million mourners.
Fantastic tale! Tragic but fascinating history.
I’m glad you enjoyed it
Mate, what a wild ride. Sadly so many innocent people died, particularly the young boy. Still an amazing watch. Well presented, thankyou.
I’m glad that you enjoyed my story.
Please make sure to subscribe for future videos.
The raid is depicted in a very conflated version at the start of the feature film 'The Siege of Sidney Street' (1960) starring Peter Wyngarde and Donald Sinden. My father, T.P. McKenna, took the role of Lapidos. Altogether, it's wrapped up in seven minutes, so you don't get the epic scope of the chase, but here's a thing, according to the Wiki entry for the 'Tottenham Outrage', an 'estimated 400 rounds of ammunition [were] fired by the thieves'. Has that figure been accurately recorded, or was it an early example of police hyperbole.
The problem with that number is how readily the anarchists would have had access to such a large quantity of ammunition? Also, given the relatively simple nature of 'the blag', and the virtually complete absence of firearms between the company employees and police, is it likely the two men would have gone armed for a major gun battle? One more thing, of the two guns the entry suggests they used (respectively with a 5 and 9 bullet capacity), I calculate that they would have had to reload their weapons almost sixty times between them. Hardly something that would easily have been achieved on a fast moving chase.
I merely ask.
Thanks for sharing
I really enjoyed this thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Wow I never heard of this before! What a great summary.
You know… it’s something to think about the community spirit of all those civilians who jumped into help. A different time indeed.
I continue to enjoy your content friend!
I went to a Spurs match last year and saw the police station and the site of the factory where it all started.
WOW, that was so interesting, I had never heard of the "Outrage" before. Thanks and keep them coming.
I am glad that you enjoyed it.
Loved it. Very informative. Thank you.
What a tragedy. It is amazing that the chase took so long with so many people and so many weapons. The 2 criminals must have had so much energy even with commadering the various means of transport. Very interesting post.
Thanks Lesley. I knew nothing about it other than being an Anarchist shoot out so I found it fascinating researching it. Just like nowadays, the Outrage caused a back lash against the whole immigrant (Jewish) community. As ever a small group give the rest a bad name. Some things don't change.
Thank you Lesley. I enjoyed researching it.
What a fascinating tale Chris, made that bit more interesting for me as someone who lives in N London not far from Tottenham. Cheers 😎
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.
I am sure I saw a piece about this on the One Show some years ago (maybe it was the 100th anniversary?) It really shocked me then and your retelling was even better for dramatic storytelling. It sounds like something from a Hollywood cop chase (but with a hint of Keystone Cops!) Thanks for your history stories!
Glad you enjoyed the story.
Great video thanks 🇬🇧
Thanks John, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Please make sure to subscribe for future videos.
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
That's the first time I've heard about this event
Hope you liked it?
Please make sure to subscribe for future videos.
My family were from nearby Edmonton & Walthamstow.
Really enjoyed your storytelling Skills.
Thank you very much.
Great Story! Latvian Jewish Anarchists, that’s probably not a category of people any longer. Also, “The Battle of Epping Forest,” is a song by the band Genesis from the album, “Selling England by the Pound,” with Peter Gabriel doing the vocals that you might enjoy.
Interesting. I will look it up.
Right after you finished 'breathless' came to mind: almost like I'd been one of the pursuers on that 6 mile chase.
I’m glad that you enjoyed my story.
Please make sure to subscribe for future videos.
I did know about this story but I came across it sometime ago so it is good to be reminded of the details.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Brilliant lived off Forest rd and never knew of it.
It's one of my favourite little stories and so close to my family's old stomping grounds (Edmonton and Walthamstow)
Great content sir, keep it up!
I’m glad that you enjoyed my story.
Please make sure to subscribe for future videos.
I live in Tottenham this is a fantastic story thanks for tell us I know the areas you refer to in your video
Glad you enjoyed. `My family are originally from Edmonton.
Brilliant Storytelling!!!
Many thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
Cannot believe I've never heard of this, thank u!
Thanks for watching my video
Surely, the lesson that must be taken from this is that constables ought still be issued with naval cutlasses.
Ha ha, and maybe they need at least one officer who can drive a tram!
If you enjoyed then please make sure to subscribe for future videos.
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
Fun historical fact....
My first and my second
Wives left me on January 23rd.
I raise a glass to them every year.
Cheers !
I won't do a video about those two events!!!
that's like the one of a man's wife that ran off with his best friend. The man really missed his best friend.
The “Tottenham Outrage” is featured in the 1960 British film “The Siege of Sidney Street”. I can also recommend the novelisation of that film, published by Pan Books.
Many thanks for taking the time to share.
It sounds like a sketch out of The Benny Hill Show
Indeed, although with more deadly results.
Chris, please consider a video on the Rand Rebellion of 1922 where a namesake of yours, Jimmy Green, was one of the rebellion leaders.
My 6 year old grandmother was in Fordsburg or Jeppe at the time of the riots, and had to hide under a wooden walkway (like you see in Westerns) to evade the thundering hooves of the charging cavalry...
Alteratively, the Straw Hat Riots in America, 1922, might also be interesting.
Thanks for those two suggestions. I will put them on my list for possible future talks. Please subscribe to my channel so you don't miss them.
@@TheHistoryChap I'm already subscribed, Chris.
I follow quality content only!
Thank you, I enjoyed that
My pleasure. Strange to walk past the police station on my way to watch Spurs.
Excellent as always, sadly however it is also the timeless story most relevant today, of endless governments failing to effectively screen immigration and today openly shipping thousands across the channel, Unknown, unscreened and coming to and changing the look and feel of a town near you.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Please subscribe if you want to see new releases.
PC Tyler's grave is still in pretty good condition. On a recent walk in Abney Park Cemetary, a friend and I found it. He was a bit nonplussed because he'd never heard of the outrage, but I had read about it and was able to tell him all about it.
Thanks for sharing about PC Tyler’s grave.
Thank you this was interesting
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks so much
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed.
That would make a good movie
Another project for me to work on :)
Hope you enjoyed and if you did then please make sure to subscribe for future videos.
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
Chris
If that chase was done like that in a movie, I would still think it far fetched. Well, truth is stranger than fiction.
Thanks Greg.
I have to admit that when I came across the story I couldn't believe what I was reading.
It just had to be shared.
Fabulously well told story.
Thank you for your kind words.
Please make sure to subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss future videos.
This is a great story, my grandparents lived in this area and would have been about 25 years old at the time.
My family did too.
The siege of Sidney st 1911 certainly has common features like the extreme violence
I agree. Lots of similarities.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Chris my man ,I gonna track down your old ones and they're good. Old Russian saying : The latvians killed the Tsar and his family! In the meaning it can't be worse ...Interesting piece about this time. Thank you very much and regards from Northern Germany Ludwig .
Thanks for watching this one.
A great forgotten story worth doing a video on is the exploits of Johnathan Wild and Jack Sheppard.
Thank you for the suggestion. I will add to my (ever-growing) list of potential talks.
Please make sure to subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss future videos.
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
What a story. I enjoyed it very much.
Still one of my favourite stories.
Sounds very similar to The Siege of Sidney Street! Thanks Chris.
Related anarchist comrades.
Thank You
My pleasure.
I can hear the hectic piano piece for this Silent movie chase
Smiling.
In the dvd 100 years of Trams I heard of this but its more serious than I thought
Thanks for watching.
I come from Leyton, next to the forest, but never knew that
My family were from Walthamstow and Edmonton so this was a halfway house!
Bearing in mind that all films were silent in 1909 I can hear the tinny piano playing in the background....however....as you quite rightly say , this was a bit of a 'Keystone Cops' chase...but the poor young lad and the brave Policeman were killed in the mayhem.
Well....it was double capital murder so both would've been hanged if they were taken alive so the Hangman didn't get his fee.
Fancy chasing villains in a Tram !
Brilliant.
Thought that you would like this one!
@@TheHistoryChap
Well....I ask you.....Villains I leading tram....Cops in tram behind ! Not a lot of options...
@@oldgitsknowstuff I reminds me of the scene from "Wind in the Willows" when Toad is on a train trying to escape the police!
@@TheHistoryChap
History is fun.
How about presenting the Sidney Street Siege (which is difficult to say if you have a Lithp). I think Churchill was involved somewhere along the way...
OR.
The Christine Keeler affair....that's a good one.
@@TheHistoryChap when you mentioned an old favorite, WIIND IN THE WILLOWS, I am reminded of Terry Jones & Micheal Palin's RIPPIN YARNS. see episode, Ripping Yarns Season 1 Episode 2-The Testing Of Eric Olthwaite
Fascinating. I wonder if the stolen money will ever be recovered?
No one has ever claimed it
Brilliant.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Those desperados must have come to commit the robbery with enough ammunition to start a small war.
I love the way the newspapers, back in those days, described as an "outrage" such a wide spectrum of criminal behaviours.
It is a quite extraordinary event.
Amazing!
Indeed. Thanks for watching.
Great video Sir. Please excuse the foul language but the bastards got what they deserved. God bless you Sir.. Kudos!
Thanks.
Great job on telling this interesting and sad story. I always thought English police did not carry firearms and this must have been incorrect or changed at this time. Thank you for this work.
Thank you for your kind words.
Rather like you, I thought that was the case but obviously not in 1909.
Please make sure to subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss future videos.
@@TheHistoryChap thought I had subscribed and fixed now. Regards
British police did ad hoc , as did members of the public....with no real problems until the firearms licencing acts after WW1.....brought in for fear of armed revolt by the plebians. Just think if legaly armed citizens were around these days how many dead terrs there would be and fewer dead citizens ?
@@TheHistoryChap My understanding was that the Police were not regularly issued with firearms, but a stock of ten or so were kept in the Station Office to be issued by the Station Sergeant upon orders from the Duty Inspector. I believe like in the Sidney Street Siege that a lot of the firearms used by the Police in this incident were spontaneously provided by local people and returned to them upon completion of the incident.. Would love a video on the Sidney Street Siege ( I believe both these incidents the gangs were linked) and Jack Shepherd (I served with a lad whose wife was some sort o descendant of Jack the Lad).
£80 in gold, silver and copper coins about £10,000 in todays money, take a minute to let that sink in!
A Pound basically lost 99.2% of its value in 113 years.
Crazy too if you had 80 gold sovrigns today they'd worth over £33,000.
Thanks for watching my video
I’m playing the theme to Benny Hill in my head as you tell the story
Appropriate music.
Can't wait for an analysis on the Jack the Ripper mystery .
Will work on that one for you.
@@TheHistoryChap Spine tingling stuff .
What a brilliant ripping yarn!
Glad you enjoyed it
This is the outrage we should have towards criminals today.
Clean the streets.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Jacob Lepidus (real spelling Lapidus) was my Grandmother's Cousin. One thing in the video is wrong, Abney Park Cemetery is not in Tottenham it is in Stoke Newington.
Thanks for taking the time to comment
@@TheHistoryChap You're welcome.
I pictured Steve McQueen riding that milk cart, urging his horse to go faster... I suppose the modern generation would see Vin Diesel instead...
Ha ha, that is an image indeed!
Ralph Joscelyne was my great great great great uncle 😢 my middle name is after him but spelling has changed down the generations ❤
Wow, thats a brilliant story. Thanks for sharing.
Pulled out a revolver? I'm pretty sure both men were armed with semi automatic pistols
Thanks for adding your knowledge to the story.
Tottenham hasn’t changed.
Police station still there.
Ha Ha Ha, this is brilliant! You couldn't make this story up.
I just had to tell this story.
If only the movie studios would focus on real historical events, they would have an endless supply of great stories.
Paging Mr Christopher Nolan....
very kind of you. Thanks
Nothings changed there then ,coppers swilling tea as a crime goes down in front of their noses.
Thanks for watching my video
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, nothing good ever happens in Tottenham
Ouch!
All that and the money was never found ?
Maybe I should start a treasure hunt? ha ha
It's a Benny Hill sketch!
I agree...Apart from the deaths of course :)
My grand father got shot in the leg trying to stop them at tottenham. Ihave a photo of the wound.
Anarchy in the UK 💣💥
Thanks for taking the time to comment
They may well have had a Harry Flashman moment, heroes by default.
Interesting link to the world of Harry Flashman.
@@TheHistoryChap Flashman and the Tiger has Harry fleeing the battle on horseback and yet later lauded as a hero
And this never made a movie?
Should have been but crucial question…thriller or comedy?
I hope you are a teacher or can hold some classes, even if just for fun. Very inspirational :)
Not a teacher but do deliver both online and real talks and classes.
It shows the man, and women in the street were willing to have ago at the bad guys, over 100 years ago.
Today they would ignore and go back to their SMART phone, while police carried out health and safety report first.
Remind me who’s moto is WITHOUT FEAR , OR FAVOUR , again?
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
I love God and Jesus eith all my heart!
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Nothing like a good hue and cry chasing some armed foreign terrorists🤯
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Please make sure to subscribe for future videos.
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
Blimey.
That’s one way of putting it 😀
Brill
Thanks for watching. If you join British history, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thehistorychap.com
The siege of sidney street
The army was called in to help
As police werent armed in those days as the broadwater farn riots proved when one
Policeman was killed by the mob and no army assistance!
Might make a video about the Sidney Street siege
Nothing changes immigrants again.
Think they were driven by political ideology than ethnicity.
@@TheHistoryChap the fact remains that allowing them to come to our country cost two good people their lives.
only sad and tragic, nothing comical at all
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Comical and sad seems to describe alot of British history
I guess that's why we laugh at ourselves so much :)
Amazing and laughable
When I came across this story I knew I had to tell it. Thanks for watching.
Leave it to Communists to create chaos.
Thank you for taking the time to post your comment.