Operation Pamphlet (24 January – 27 February 1943) was a World War II convoy that brought the Australian Army's 9th Division home from Egypt. The convoy included five transports, which were protected from Japanese warships by several Allied naval task forces during their trip across the Indian Ocean and along the Australian coastline. The Australian Government had requested an end to the Second Australian Imperial Force's role in the North African Campaign. Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to convince the Australian Prime Minister, John Curtin, to withdraw the request until the Allied victory in North Africa was complete, but Curtin and Allied military leaders in the South West Pacific believed that the veteran division was needed for planned offensive operations in New Guinea. The 9th Division arrived in Australian ports with no losses from enemy action, and went on to make important contributions in New Guinea during late 1943.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pamphlet

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

914:

The Fatimid Caliphate began their first invasion of Egypt. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimid_invasion_of_Egypt_%28914%E2%80%93915%29

1915:

First World War: British Grand Fleet ships intercepted and surprised a German High Seas Fleet squadron in the North Sea, sinking a German cruiser and damaging several other vessels. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dogger_Bank_%281915%29

1989:

American serial killer Ted Bundy was executed via electric chair in Florida after confessing to the murders of 30 young women. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Bundy

2011:

A suicide bomber killed 37 people at Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domodedovo_International_Airport_bombing

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

brumous: (literary) Foggy or misty; wintry. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/brumous

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

When I was young, times were hard. When I got older it was worse.   --Warren Zevon https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Warren_Zevon