City of Khaki

06/12/1914

Information

Today men from the 5th Essex Regiment, the East Anglians, the Norfolk & Suffolk Army Service Corps, the Norfolk Regiment and the East Anglian Field Ambulance attended a church service in St John's. With over 3,000 troops in winter training quarters locally, many people commented that Peterborough had become a 'city of khaki'. (Bull, J & V., Perry, S. and Sturgess, R., Peterborough - a third portrait in old picture postcards, S.B. Publications, 1990)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

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Last Public Hanging

04/05/1812

Information

At the end of April 1812, Revd Mr Myers submitted a petition to the Prince Regent on behalf of his 'unfortunate nephew' D.T. Myers, then under sentence of death in Peterborough gaol. At the prince's command, a copy was sent to Peterborough magistrates requesting details of the circumstances of the case. The information was sent and a reply received stating that 'his Royal Highness would not reverse the decision'. As a result, Daniel Thomas Myers was hanged on this day, having been found guilty of committing an unnatural offence with another man in Burghley Park. The Revd Hinde accompanied the prisoner in the post-chaise to the gallows. That was preceded in the procession by a hearse and a coffin, and moved slowly amidst a concourse of 5,000 to 6,000 spectators to the usual place of execution on Peterborough Common. There a new drop had been erected under the gallows for the occasion. On the platform, Myers joined the clergymen in a prayer composed by the reverend gentleman, with whom the wretched man parted in a way that drew tears from the eyes of every beholder. Time will show that he was the last person to have this fate in Peterborough. (Stamford Mercury) Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.