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TIL Finches and canaries were used in the coal mine industry to detect carbon monoxide. This practice ceased as of 1986

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wonjE TIL about the Atholl Highlanders, which are a British private infantry regiment under the Duke of Athool, chieftain of Clan Murray, in Pertshire, Scotland
PYO0g TIL in 1941, when a General asked Winston Churchill for more men to man Antiaircraft guns, Churchill replied "No, I can’t spare any men, you’ll have to use women." Mary Churchill (18), Winston Churchill's youngest daughter was among the first to join and rose to the rank of Junior Commander in 1944.
5Yykn TIL that one of the principle deniers of the Cambodian Genocide of 1975-1979 (the British Academic Malcom Caldwell) was (almost certainly) killed by the Khmer Rouge (probably under the orders of Pol Pot) shortly after interviewing Brother Number One on Dec. 22 1978.
78EQO TIL that the UK's Royal Navy only has 2 aircraft carriers
PL4J TIL Henry VIII had someone who’s job it was to wipe his bottom for him. They were called ‘Grooms of the Stool’ and Henry VIII had 4 of them during his reign, all of whom were knighted!