Stuff the British Stole

The Koh-i-Noor is one of the largest diamonds in the world. It currently sits in the crown of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, part of the British Royal Family’s Crown Jewels. Marc Fennell untangles the complex history of this priceless gem and the tragedy of a 10-year-old Sikh boy ripped from his mother and removed from his kingdom in the mid-19th century.

The legendary Stone of Scone or Stone of Destiny was used in the coronation of Scottish monarchs until the 13th century. Then, an invading English king took the stone and it has been used during the coronation of English, then British royalty ever since, including the crowning of King Charles III. Marc Fennell investigates this contested potent and sacred symbol of the Scottish people.

Across Australia are fragments of a mosaic from ancient Palestine. They were taken as war trophies by Australian troops fighting in the Middle East around 1917. Marc Fennell goes in search of these mosaic fragments and looks into the murky history of Australia’s role in the British Empire. He also reveals how colonialism helped to shape the modern Middle East.

In the wake of the Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1901, British colonial forces stole a precious Ming Dynasty golden warrior statue from China. But how did it end up in a prestigious Australian art gallery? Marc Fennell tries to unravel this strange tale of war spoils, colonialism and provenance. Where does the statue truly belong and who decides the fate of this priceless object?

Crowfoot, a proud Chief of Blackfoot nation, negotiated one of the most controversial treaties in Canadian history. He felt he had to sign a deal with Queen Victoria to serve the best interests of his people and protect his nation. But then his personal regalia ended up in a British museum. Marc Fennell investigates whether colonial forces literally stole the shirt from his back.

For well over a century the remains of Yagan, an Indigenous Noongar warrior from Western Australia, were missing in the UK. The search for Yagan and the fight to bring him home is one of history's wildest detective stories. Marc Fennell delves into this bizarre and perplexing historical mystery. How did the head of this legendary resistance fighter end up in an unmarked grave in Liverpool?