Episode 54 - Churchill’s Snowman and when Russian Cossacks invaded Africa

In this episode, Harrison learns about a Geoffrey Pyke, also know as Churchill’s Snowman. Pyke was British and can somewhat charitably be called eccentric, but he had many ideas that whilst at first view might seem completely insane - such as building a 2km long aircraft carrier out of ice that could let WWII bombers take off and land - he was clearly a clever guy. It’s a real shame the British don’t take strange ideas more seriously. Chris meanwhile discovered the time that a bunch of Russian “Cossacks” who weren’t Cossacks at all invaded and tried to colonise a part of Africa, which at the time was colonised by the French. After about a month, the French lost their patience and sent in a flotilla of gunboats. Best of all the rag-tag army of Cossacks was led by a 23 year old Russian who until his African adventure had the ear of Czar Alexander III. The late 19th century was a strange time.