h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A posh joke perhaps Peccavi (this was a proper joke)

Who made the joke
Who to and when
And the point of the joke was

There will be 's

Aha! No names recalled nor the year, so I'll subside & watch...

Peccavi means 'I have sinned', and somebody sent that message by telegraph back to blighty when they captured Sind in India.

Can't remember who though.

I remember reading about this, it might even have been here on hootoo somewhere.

It's a pun - "I have sinned" means "I have Sind". The forces had captured Sind despite orders not to - hence "I have sinned".

can't remember who though - it was a telegram sent to London.

I hoped this would last a bit longer...

Pedro
Peccavi means 'I have sinned', and somebody sent that message by telegraph back to blighty when they captured Sind in India.

+3

Feisor
The forces had captured Sind despite orders not to - hence "I have sinned". +1 DGI

Now who to
Who from
And when

Allegedly, General Sir Charles Napier sent a despatch to Lord Ellenborough in 1843 that read 'Peccavi' (but not, I'm afraid, because he had gone against orders but more that he never sent it)

The author of this witticism was Catherine Winkworth (1827-78). She commented to her teacher that, since Napier's campaign had been criticised in Parliament for being ruthless, his despatch should have read 'Peccavi'. She sent her pun to Punch magazine, which printed it as fact on 18th May, 1844 and it was thus attributed to Napier.

I came across this in a newspaper on the same page as my crosword and stumbled upon it again when I was looking something up in Brewer to try to solve said crossword so I'm not sure if I should get any points for being in the right place at the right time.

No worries van smelter!!

If you have hit the answer in innocence, there should be no problem...

Wait for the setter to confirm......



GT

No problem van-smeiter you knew it thats all that matters.

Allegedly +1 case not proven
General Sir Charles Napier +3
A despatch to Lord Ellenborough in 1843 +3


Well spotted the hidden answer
The author of this witticism was Catherine Winkworth (1827-78). She commented to her teacher that, since Napier's campaign had been criticised in Parliament for being ruthless, his despatch should have read 'Peccavi'. She sent her pun to Punch magazine, which printed it as fact on 18th May, 1844 and it was thus attributed to Napier. +6 QI



Queen Victoria

Extra DGI points for
Sir Charles Napier how did he die
Catherine Winkworth what 2 things is she famous for

Catherine Winkworth translated hymns from German into English and published an English Chorale.

She was also known for supporting women's rights.

What's the question?

Catherine Winkworth translated hymns from German into English and published an English Chorale. +3DGI


Now the military fellow

Sir Charles Napier was a pall bearer at Wellington's funeral.

He caught pneumonia (it was a cold, wet day) and died.

bob napier was leading the expedition to abasynia