Hector Waller (4 April 1900 – 1 March 1942) was a senior officer in
the Royal Australian Navy. Born in Benalla, Victoria, Waller entered the
Royal Australian Naval College in 1913 and served in the First World
War. He gained his first command in 1937, as captain of the destroyer
HMS Brazen. In September 1939, he took command of HMAS Stuart and four
other obsolete destroyers that together became known as the "Scrap Iron
Flotilla". Waller was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Bar,
and twice mentioned in despatches, for his achievements in the
Mediterranean. He then transferred to the South West Pacific as captain
of the light cruiser HMAS Perth, and went down with his ship against
heavy odds during the Battle of Sunda Strait in early 1942. He received
a third mention in despatches posthumously, and in 2011 came under
formal consideration for the award of the Victoria Cross for his
performance as Perth's captain. The submarine HMAS Waller is named in
his honour.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_Waller>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1872:
Yellowstone National Park (bison pictured), located mostly in
the present-day U.S. state of Wyoming, was established as the world's
first national park.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park>
1944:
World War II: American and Australian troops won the Battle of
Sio in New Guinea.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sio>
2008:
The Armenian military and national police attacked a crowd of
people protesting the results of the recent election in Yerevan, leading
to 10 deaths and over 100 arrests.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Armenian_presidential_election_protests>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
pendragon:
Also capitalized as Pendragon: a title assumed by the ancient British
chiefs when called to lead other chiefs: chief war leader, dictator, or
king.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pendragon>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
As the war in Ukraine rages on, and Ukrainians fight bravely for
their country, the European Union steps up once more its support for
Ukraine and the sanctions against the aggressor — Putin's Russia. For
the first time ever, the European Union will finance the purchase and
delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is under
attack. This is a watershed moment.
--Ursula von der Leyen
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ursula_von_der_Leyen>