On this day in ...… 2000, Vera Atkins (left), British Intelligence Officer during World War II, died in Hastings, England. Atkins worked in Section F, the French section, of the Special Operations Executive. The head of Section F's London Headquarters was a man holding the rank of major, but it is said that many considered Atkins the true leader. Atkins' remarkable efficiency and intelligence in all areas of the work relating to the recruits was accompanied by deep humanity and sense of responsibility to those 470 agents -- of whom 39 were women -- sent to possible death in France. After the war Atkins, a member of Britain's War Crimes Commission, set about tracing the fate of the 118 F section agents who had disappeared in enemy territory. She succeeded in every case except one. She was appointed a Commandant of the Legion of Honor in 1987. (photo credit)
… 1314 (695 years ago today), the Battle of Bannockburn, in which Scottish forces led by Robert the Bruce fought English forces led by King Edward
II of England, resulted in English defeat. In the spring of 1314, the Scots laid siege to English-held Stirling Castle. Unable to make any significant progress, they struck a deal with the castle's commander that if the castle was not relieved by Midsummer Day -- today -- it would be surrendered to the Scots. Strategic superiority and a lack of organization in the English forces, increased by the sight of Edward II fleeing the field, contributed to Scottish victory. This victory led eventually to a period of Scottish independence. (image credit)(Prior June 24 posts are here and here.)
