General Knowledge Quiz

[Gloster]

She was, I think, the first female to have an Australian Navy ship named after her. Claude Choules was the first man, hence being her male equivalent.

No. Although Claude Choules (born Pershore, Worcestershire, died Perth, Western Australia) did have a ship named after him (the former HMS Largs Bay, sold to Australia by the MoD: it was the second Australian ship to be named after a sailor (HMAS Sheean was the first)). I am not aware of Florence Green having had a ship named after her.

Florence and Claude are relatively old names. Did they perhaps serve in both world wars in some capacity?

No, Florence Green doesn’t appear to have served in both world wars, although Claude Choules did. But you are getting nearer.

 

[DaleCooper]

An appropriate one for today. What made Florence Green (nee Patterson) notable?

Was she sent into occupied France as an SOE agent.

 

[Gloster]

Was she sent into occupied France as an SOE agent.

No, sorry.

 

[Loppylugs]

If Claude served in WW2 he must have been getting on a bit so perhaps Florence was the oldest serving woman in WW2?

 

[Gloster]

If Claude served in WW2 he must have been getting on a bit so perhaps Florence was the oldest serving woman in WW2?

No, but getting closer: age is relevant to the answer.

 

[D6130]

Were they the only European man and woman to reach more than 110 years of age?

 

[Gloster]

Were they the only European man and woman to reach more than 110 years of age?

No. As mentioned in the original question, there was a specific connection to yesterday (or last Thursday).

 

[Caboose Class]

Anything to do with the BBC - first voices to be heard on radio?

 

[Gloster]

Anything to do with the BBC - first voices to be heard on radio?

Nothing to do with the BBC.

 

[MotCO]

The oldest ex-WW1 veterans to live?

 

[Gloster]

The oldest ex-WW1 veterans to live?

Correct. Florence Green was the very last person alive to have served in the forces of any country in World War I. Claude Choules was the last man.

Your turn.

 

[MotCO]

What did Louis-Sébastien Lenormand of France invent? In truth, it had been around from earlier times, but Louis-Sébastien invented the modern version of it, and also invented the name for it.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

He was a physicist. Didn't he invent the parachute or something on those lines?

It came up on our quiz night in Dalton, GA about 3 weeks ago.
(The other easy one that was asked was "What does the chemical symbol W stand for on the periodic table" ?) Only easy when you know I guess!

 

[MotCO]

Isn't W Tungsten?

And yes, Louis-Sébastien Lenormand did invent the modern parachute. I was trying to keep the military theme going.

Your turn to jump.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Isn't W Tungsten?

And yes, Louis-Sébastien Lenormand did invent the modern parachute. I was trying to keep the military theme going.

Your turn to jump.

W is indeed Tungsten. I can’t think of a question so open floor please.

 

[Caboose Class]

I'll jump in with a cricketing question:-

Which cricketer has scored the most Test Match runs (3,154) without ever scoring a century?

 

[xotGD]

I'm thinking it must be a bowler with a long Test career.

Shane Warne?

 

[Caboose Class]

I'm thinking it must be a bowler with a long Test career.

Shane Warne?

Wickets sent crashing - well done! Over to you @xotGD Incidentally, here are Shane Warne's Test Match statistics:-

Matches	145
Runs scored	3,154
Batting average	17.32
100s/50s	0/12
Top score	99
Balls bowled	40,704
Wickets	708
Bowling average	25.41
5 wickets in innings	37
10 wickets in match	10
Best bowling	8/71
Catches/stumpings	125/–

 

[xotGD]

European history...

Who was the last King of Spain prior to the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931?

Unusually, he became king on the day he was born!

 

[MotCO]

Alfonso?

 

[Spamcan81]

Deleted

 

[xotGD]

Alfonso?

Correct! Alfonso XIII, to be precise.

His father died before he was born, so more than being born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he was born with a crown on his head.

You may ascend to the throne...

 

[MotCO]

What links the following:

• John Edmund Wentworth Addison
• Henry Duke
• Abraham Flint
• Stephen Gethins
• Mark Oaten
• Gwynoro Jones
• Harmar Nicholls
• Michelle Gildernew
• George Ward

 

[perryman]

I believe they are politicians. Did they each return the lowest majority for their seat in respective elections? I know Michelle Gildernew did, though I can't remember which Northern Ireland constituency it was.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

They are/were all politicians but I assume you want a bit more than that?

 

[SuspectUsual]

They won (by)elections by margins in single figures?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I believe they are politicians. Did they each return the lowest majority for their seat in respective elections? I know Michelle Gildernew did, though I can't remember which Northern Ireland constituency it was.

I think you could be on the right line as I am sure Gethins had a ridiculously low majority (single figures iirc) for the SNP in very recent times.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

They won (by)elections with majorities in single figures?

beat me to it.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

They won (by)elections by margins in single figures?

I'd go along with that, as I know that Gwynoro Jones won Carmarthen in 1974 with a very small majority (in fact, it was three votes). Can I also suggest that, as in his case, they all then lost by a large margin in a subsequent election and that's the full answer?

 

[MotCO]

I believe they are politicians. Did they each return the lowest majority for their seat in respective elections? I know Michelle Gildernew did, though I can't remember which Northern Ireland constituency it was.

There have been many answers provided, but you were the first along the right lines. All were MPs returned with a majority of less than 5.

0 votes: John Edmund Wentworth Addison

1 vote: Henry Duke

2 votes: Abraham Flint

2 votes: Stephen Gethins, SNP, North East Fife, 2017

2 votes: Mark Oaten, Liberal Democrat, Winchester, 1997

3 votes: Gwynoro Jones, Labour, Carmarthen, February 1974

3 votes: Harmar Nicholls, Conservative, Peterborough, 1966

4 votes: Michelle Gildernew, Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, 2010

4 votes: George Ward, Conservative, Worcester, 1945


Please set the next question.