Anniversaries & Dates of Interest - May Quiz

Answer: By torpedo from a submarine

The Belgrano was launched in 1938 as the 'USS Phoenix' for the US Navy. She survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and went on to have a successful war campaign. Decommissioned in 1946, she was sold to Argentina in 1951. The incident in which the Belgrano was sunk has earned some controversy.

She was outside the 200-mile total exclusion zone that Britain had declared as their campaign to retake the Falkland islands built up. On May 30th, the submarine 'Conqueror' spotted Belgrano and two escorting ships. Following discussions at the highest level of the British command, it was decided to engage the Belgrano.

It is said that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was one of those who sanctioned the attack. At 15:57 local time on May 2nd, HMS Conqueror discharged three torpedoes, two of which exploded under the Belgrano. (The third also is thought to have hit but not exploded).

The ship was abandoned and sank. In all, Chilean and other Argentinian ships rescued 772 survivors, but 323 people died.

Answer: Ken Livingstone

Kenneth Livingstone was born on 17th June 1945 and was a Labour Party politician. He was regarded as being on the extreme left of the party. He was elected a Member of Parliament in 1987 and was the first elected Mayor of London in 2000, serving until 2008. Livingstone enjoyed an often controversial political career and often championed minority causes. One of his major policy changes was the introduction of a Congestion Charge, in effect a tax on those who wanted to take vehicles into central London.

He won two successive four-year terms, but was defeated in 2008 and again in 2012 by the charismatic and (according to some) equally controversial Boris Johnson, of the Conservative Party. As a hobby, Mr Livingstone bred newts.

Answer: Opening of the channel tunnel between France and England

The idea of a tunnel between France and England (or, if you prefer, between England and France) was first put forward in 1802 and Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have approved of it - though the British were less keen. That idea would have involved horse-drawn coaches. Plans came and went, but it was not until June 1988 that the tunneling started. Tunnels - for railway trains - were started from northern France and Kent and met in December 1990.

In May 1994, Queen Elizabeth II and President François Mitterrand officially opened the tunnel.

Answer: A schoolhouse in Reims, France

After the suicide of Adolf Hitler while Russian forces were closing in on Berlin in April 1945, Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz became the German leader. General Alfred Jodl signed on behalf of the German High Command, General Walter Bedell Smith (US Army) signed on behalf of the Western Allies, and Ivan Susloparov on behalf of the USSR. Major-General François Sevez (France) signed as the official witness.

However, the Red Army did not recognise the treaty, and a second surrender was signed in Berlin on May 8th.

The quote is from a Phil Ochs song written about the Vietnam War.

Answer: Nuclear bomb test

India joined the nuclear 'family' in 1974 when it carried out an underground test near the Pakistan border. It came just three years after India and ally Bangladesh fought a short but bitter war with Pakistan. In all 13,000 lost their lives and the victorious allies took almost 100,000 Pakistan soldiers as prisoners of war.

Answer: Israel

In modern days, the Festival of Yom Ha'atzma'ut celebrates the proclamation of the state of Israel. That act led to the start of the Arab-Israeli War. Jewish people had long had the ambition to have their own homeland in what, after World War One, was Palestine, which was a British Mandate. (In 1917, the British had "viewed with favour" the formation of "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.

After WW2, Britain faced an armed insurrection by settlers who tried to force their hand and live up to the earlier commitment. Britain put the matter to the United Nations, which ruled on the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab areas.

Answer: Christmas Island

The test, part of 'Operation Grapple', was carried out at high altitude. A bomb was dropped from a Valiant bomber over Malden Island, about 330 miles from Christmas Island. Nine tests were carried out in the area between 1956 and 1958.

Answer: Dublin and Monaghan

The Ulster Volunteer Force claimed 'responsibility' for a series of car bomb explosions in Ireland's capital and in the county town of Monaghan. Almost 300 people were injured. Three explosions were set off in Dublin and one 90 minutes later in Monaghan. No warnings had been given.

Answer: Trident

The UGM-133 Trident II missiles were built by Lockheed Martin in California. Britain planned to use then from Vanguard class nuclear-powered submarines. The missiles had a range of around 7,000 miles. As part of its independent nuclear deterrent, Britain planned to have at least one Vanguard submarine somewhere at sea constantly.

The tests took place off the coast of Florida. Greenpeace activists successfully disrupted two attempted tests, before the first successful launch on May 26th.

Answer: Baha'i

In the Bahá'í Faith there is only one God and adherents believe that the Christian history was defined by a series of messengers who appeared from time to time. It was founded by Bahá'u'lláh (12th November 1817 to 29th May 1892) in Persia. He believed that humanity was one single race saying: "there is only one God, that all of the world's religions are from God, and that now is the time for humanity to recognize its oneness and unite." For a period in the 20th Century, the Baha'i Faith was the fastest growing religion.