This day in History (2 Viewers)

May 9, 1945. Today Russia, and the ex socialist republics celebrate the victory on the nazi Germany.

But it is also the starting date of the red terror on many eastern countries under the communist ruling: deportations, confiscations, concentration camps, physical and psychological torture, russification of schools, denial of local cultures, destruction of the penal code with the "family responsibility" or "entire groups" penal responsibility, general accusations like " enemy of the state" or " saboteur", rebellions repressed in blood....
 
May 9th 1901 - Anglo Boer War - Two Tasmanians troopers from Colonel Gorringe's column hold of 23 Boers near Gannashoek, inflicting many casualties before running out of ammunition and being captured. Trooper Warburton later dies of his wounds
 
Friday, May 14, 1943. : Australian Hospital Ship Centaur is sunk by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine.

The Centaur, an Australian Hospital Ship, had been built for the Ocean Steamship Company in Greenock, Scotland, in 1924, as a passenger ship and was converted in early 1943 for use as a hospital ship. It sailed unescorted from Sydney on 12 May 1943, well illuminated and marked as a hospital ship. Two days later, on 14 May 1943, when the Centaur was about 80km east north-east of Brisbane, it was sunk without warning by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine, an act considered to be a war crime. The ship was hit in the fuel tank, burst into flames and sank within three minutes.

The 332 people on board included 75 Merchant Navy crew, 65 ship's Australian Army medical staff including 12 nurses, and 192 members of the Army's 2/12th Field Ambulance that was to establish various medical units. There were 64 survivors, who clung to rafts for around 35 hours until they were rescued by the United States Navy ship USS Mugford. The survivors were initially located by an Avro Anson from 71 Squadron RAAF based at Lowood Airfield in the Brisbane Valley.

A memorial to the Centaur is situated at Point Danger, Coolangatta, Queensland. It consists of a monumental stone topped with a cairn, surrounded by a tiled moat with memorial plaques explaining the commemoration. The memorial is in turn surrounded by a park with a boardwalk, overlooking the sea, that has plaques for other ships lost during World War II, including both Merchant and Royal Australian Navy ships. The memorial was unveiled on the 50th anniversary of the sinking, 14 May 1993, by Minister for Veteran's Affairs, Senator the Honourable John Faulkner. Apart from Australian survivors and local dignitaries, a contingent of the USS Mugford crew travelled from the USA for the event.

Another memorial to the Centaur is situated at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. It is one of many features along a memorial walkway, stretching from Caloundra Head to Shelly Beach, which honours all Australian men and women who served in war. The walkway contains 1500 plaque sites, many of which already contain memorial plaques for individuals who were victims of the Centaur, ex-Prisoners of War, or servicemen and women who served in Vietnam, the Middle East, Korea and other campaigns.
 
May 17th 1900 – Anglo Boer War: British troops relieve Mafeking
 
May 20th 1873 – Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive a U.S. patent for blue jeans with copper rivets
 
1927 - Charles Lindbergh becomes the first person to fly solo and non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean.
 
May 31st 1902 – Second Boer War: The Treaty of Vereeniging ends the war and ensures British control of South Africa.
 
1829 - Today is Foundation Day for Western Australia.

1850 - The first convicts arrive in Fremantle, Western Australia, to help populate the waning Swan River colony.

1962 - Adolf Eichmann, 'Chief Executioner of the Third Reich', is hanged for his war crimes.

1968 - Helen Keller, blind and deaf author and lecturer, dies.

2001 - Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal massacres the Nepali Royal family before committing suicide.
 
lancer said:
A really bad day for the Prince Imperial and a career killer for Lt. Carey. Nice representation, Martyn. -- Al
Click to expand...

Right on both counts there Al :wink2: glad you liked :salute::

Cheers

Martyn:)
 
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