John Lucas was a native of Co Carlow Ireland. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for Gallantry in 1862. He won the award at the age of 35 for his actions during Taranaki-Maori War in New Zealand. The Victoria Cross is awarded for ‘most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy’. The Victoria Cross has been awarded to 168 soldiers from Ireland, two of whom were born in County Carlow.

John Lucas who was born at Clashganny, Borris, Co Carlow in 1826. He was serving as a Colour Sergeant with the 40th Regiment of Foot of the British army in New Zealand in 1861. Colour Sergeant Lucas and his party were acting as skirmishers on the Western side of the North Island of New Zealand during the Taranaki-Maori War. They were ambushed at Huirangi Bush and three of the party were wounded. For his actions during the ambush on March 18^th 1861, Lucas was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The citation for the award read: Three men being wounded simultaneously, two of them mortally, assistance was called for in order to have them carried to the rear: a file was immediately sent, but had scarcely arrived, when one of them fell, and Lieutenant Rees was wounded at the same time. Colour-Sergeant Lucas, under heavy fire from Maori warriors, who were not more than thirty yards distant, immediately ran up to the assistance of this Officer, and sent one man with him to the rear. He then took charge of the arms belonging to the killed and wounded men, and maintained his position until the arrival of supports under Lieutenants Gibson and Whelan.

Lucas was presented with his Victoria Cross at Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, New Zealand on October 1st 1862. He was later promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major. When Sergeant Major Lucas retired from the British Army he returned to Ireland. He lived at ‘The Lodge’ Parkgate Street Dublin, the main entrance to the Phoenix Park, until he died in 1892. He is buried at St James cemetery on James’s Street in Dublin. His Victoria Cross is held at the South Lancashire Regiment Museum in Warrington, England.

John Lucas, a native of Co Carlow Ireland who was awarded the Victoria Cross for Gallantry in 1862 for his actions during Taranaki-Maori War in New Zealand, died in Dublin aged 66 in the year 1892 On This Day.

Sergeant Major John Lucas VC

http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/british_regiment/south_lancashire_regiment_victoria_cross.htm

Roger Bannister is former athlete who is a native of England. In 1954 he became the first person in history to run a mile (1.61km) in less than four minutes. Though it was a feat many believed to be impossible at that time, it now the competition standard for all male middle distance runners.

Roger Bannister was born in Harrow, Middlesex, England on March 23rd 1929. He studied medicine and graduated from St Mary’s College Medical School in 1954. He continued his medical studies becoming a neurologist in 1964.

A successful athlete during his school years, Bannister continued his involvement in athletics at University. He competed in the 1,500m in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki where he finished fourth. After the Olympics he resolved to run the mile in less than four minutes. He succeeded in his endeavour on May 6^th 1954 at the Iffley Road Track in Oxford, when he ran a mile in 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds. Following his retirement from athletics he pursued a successful career as a neurologist.

Roger Bannister, who became the first person in history to run a mile (1.61km) in less than four minutes, died aged 88 in the year 2018 On This Day.

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John Wesley was a cleric and theologian who was a native of England. He founded the Methodist movement in the 18th century. It was founded to bring about a reformation within the Church of England. However the movement became a separate church and today it has millions of adherents worldwide.

John Wesley was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England on June 17^th 1703. He was ordained a priest of the Church of England in 1725. He went with his brother Charles to Savannah, Georgia in America on missionary work. However their mission was not a success and they returned to England.

Shortly after his return Wesley had what he called a ’conversion experience’ on May 24th 1738. At the time he was attending a Moravian service at Aldersgate Street in London. Shortly thereafter, with his brother Charles, he established a Methodist society in London and later in the city of Bristol.

Wesley began preaching to colliers in the city of Bristol and the Methodist movement had begun. They were called Methodists because of their methodical approach to religious observance and their strong commitment to charitable works.

Wesley first visited Ireland in 1747. He became a regular visitor in the following years. He visited Carlow where he preached and held services on six occasions. His first visit to Carlow was in 1765. He paid his final visit to Carlow in 1769 when he was 66 years old.

John Wesley, cleric, theologian and founder of the Methodist movement, died aged 87 in the year 1791 On This Day.

Photo by mtcarlson

John Wesley

The Hoover Dam is located on the Colorado River about 50km (30 miles) southeast of Las Vegas Nevada. When it was completed in 1935 it became the largest hydroelectric station in the world. Until then the Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme in Ireland was the largest. The Hoover dam was called the Boulder Dam at first. The name was changed to the Hoover Dam in 1947.

Construction on the Hoover Dam began on September 17th 1930. It was completed more than two years ahead of schedule. It began to generate electricity and transmit it 266 miles to Los Angeles for the first time on October 9th 1936. Both the Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme and the Hoover dam continue to supply electricity in their respective countries. The Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme supplies 2% of Ireland’s power. The Hoover Dam supplies electricity to California, Nevada and Arizona.

The Hoover Dam, which is located on the Colorado River about 50km (30 miles) southeast of Las Vegas Nevada, was completed in the year 1935 On This Day.

Photo by wwarby

Hoover Dam

Photo by pquan