What happened on THIS day in Coventry's history?

An alternative cricket story from 1916

The caption says 100s of cheering workers greeted " Wedgy" Benn on his visit to Triumph factory at Meriden. The photo actually shows a rather glum and miserable group, including Mr. Benn, all looking down at a Triumph motorcycle with an empty helmet on the seat. I thought the caption should have been "Is this all that is left of the management of this factory?"

Coventry City kicked off the 1968-69 season with an away game at Sheffield Wednesday on 17th August 1968, and they returned empty handed after a 3-0 defeat by the Owls. Team: (1-11) Glazier, Bruck (sub Baker), Cattlin, Machin, Setters, Clements, Hannigan, Hunt, Curtis, Tudor, Carr. Six years later, Sky Blues first game of the season was away at Newcastle United on 17th August 1974. This resulted in a 3-2 defeat, the goals coming from Brian Alderson and Tommy Hutchison. Team: (1-11) Ramsbottom, Smith, Cattlin, Mortimer, Hindley, Dugdale, Coop, Alderson, Stein, Carr, Hutchison.

Meanwhile, on the same nights, Coventry Bees had mixed fortunes in their home league matches. On 17 August 1968, Bees comfortably beat Oxford Cheetahs at Brandon by 56-22. Coventry Nigel Boocock (c) 10+2, Tom Ridley 9+1, Col Cottrell 12, Roger Hill 7+2, Antonin Kasper 10, Rick France 8+4, Chris Harrison 0 Oxford Ronnie Genz 0, Leo McAuliffe 6, Eddie Reeves (c) 2, Rick Timmo 2+2, Colin Gooddy 4, Gotfred Andreassen 0, John Bishop 8+1 But on 17 August 1974 Bees tumbled to a 28-50 home defeat by near neighbours Leicester Lions. Bob Kilby and Billy Sanders guested for Bees in place of Nigel Boocock (appendicitis) and the absent Garry Middleton, but their scores failed to match up to expectations on a wet track, which saw stand-in skipper John Harrhy** withdraw from the meeting after two starts because of the conditions. Coventry Bob Kilby 4, Alan Jay 5, Billy Sanders 5+1, John Harrhy (c) 1, Matti Olin 7, Frank Smith 3+1, Robin Adlington 3 Leicester Ray Wilson (c) 10, Frank Auffret 8+3, Mick Bell 7+1, Norman Storer 5+2, Dave Jessup 12, Bob Coles 8+2, Malcolm Brown 0 ** Seven days later, Harrhy raced to a 12 point maximum at home to a Wimbledon side led by Barry Briggs!

(from The Coventry Standard, 1914): . . . the visit of Queen Elizabeth on the 17th August in the year 1565, when her Majesty stayed two days at the Whitefriars. This was the occasion when the citizens presented her Majesty with a purse worth twenty marks, with one hundred pounds of Angells in it. On receiving it, the Queen said: "It is a good gift. I have few such, for it is one hundred pounds in gold!" To which the Mayor answered, "If it like your Grace, it is a great deal more." "What is that?" asked the Queen. To which the Mayor answered, "It is the faithful hearts of all your true loving subjects." "We thank you, Mr. Mayor," said the Queen, "It is a great deal more indeed." Such is the recorded speech.

18th Aug 1854 The foundation stone was laid for the Corn Exchange in Hertford Street - later the Empire Theatre. 18th Aug 1940 The sirens sounded at 10.53 pm, and soon the first bombs of WW2 to fall within the boundary of Coventry were dropped by a single German aircraft - fourteen high explosive bombs on Canley Road and Cannon Hill Road.

Telegraph photos taken on 18th August (Ignore Trinity Mirror's heading, they are the 18th and not the 17th)

Due to rationing of fuel as a consequence of WWII, trams were reintroduced between Broadgate and Uxbridge Avenue via Victoria Street and Binley Road on 18th August 1940

18th August 1966 was a dismal day for Warwickshire on the second day of their County Championship match against Derbyshire at Courtaulds Ground. They began on 1-2 in reply to the visitors' total of 281, having lost Khalid Ibadulla and Roger Edmonds for ducks. With Brian Jackson taking 8 for 18, Warwickshire crumbled to just 38 all out, skipper MJK Smith top scoring with 15. Invited to follow on, they finished the day on 232-7, and were finally dismissed on the following day for 253, with AC Smith scoring 85. Derbyshire, 12-0, ended victorious by 10 wickets.

Telegraph photos taken on 19th August

19th Aug 1943 Don Fardon born - singer famous for hit single, Indian Reservation. 19th Aug 1992 Peter Ndlovu made history by being the first African footballer to play in the English Premier League.

50 years ago today - 19th August 1967 - Coventry City lined up for their first-ever match in the top flight of English football, when they travelled to Turf Moor to take on Burnley. Sadly, they came away empty handed, with only a Dave Merrington own goal to show for their efforts in a 2-1 defeat. Team: (1-11) Glazier, Kearns, Bruck, Farmer, Curtis, Clements, Key, Machin, Tudor, Lewis, Rees Meanwhile, at Brandon, it was a better night for Coventry Bees, as they raced to two league victories in a double-header programme of British League fixtures. First, they took on Exeter Falcons and recorded a 46-32 win, and they followed this with a resounding 56-22 triumph over Glasgow Tigers. And what a night it was for Bees legend Nigel Boocock, who recorded two five-ride 15 point maximums from the matches Bees scorers: v Exeter: Les Owen 6+1, Rick France r/r, Ron Mountford 12 (max), Col Cottrell 6+1, Nigel Boocock 15 (max), Clive Hitch 2, Roger Hill 5+1, Chris Harrison 0 v Glasgow: Les Owen 13+2 (paid max), Rick France r/r, Ron Mountford 13, Col Cottrell 8+2, Nigel Boocock 15 (max), Clive Hitch 4+1, Roger Hill 3+1, Chris Harrison 0

Telegraph photos taken on 20th August "Bustling"?

20th Aug 1642 King Charles I's army refused entry into Coventry at the start of the Civil War. 20th Aug 2005 The Sky Blues beat Queen's Park Rangers 3-0 in their first game at the new Ricoh Arena, watched by 23,000.