Lionel Matthews (15 August 1912 – 2 March 1944) was an Australian Army officer during World War II who was posthumously awarded the George Cross, the highest non-combat award for heroism for members of the Australian armed forces at the time. Matthews served in the 27th Brigade during the Malayan campaign, and at the surrender of Singapore in 1942 became a prisoner of war (POW). He was awarded the Military Cross for courage, energy and ability under fire during this fighting. At Sandakan POW camp Matthews established an intelligence network, collecting information, weapons, medical supplies and radio parts, and making contact with organisations outside the camp. The group was betrayed, and Matthews was arrested, beaten, tortured and starved. He refused to provide any information, and was executed by firing squad. After the war he was awarded the George Cross in recognition of his gallant and distinguished services while in Japanese hands.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1865:

New Zealand Wars: Carl Sylvius Völkner, a Protestant missionary, was killed by Hauhau militants in Ōpōtiki for working as an agent for George Grey, Governor-General of New Zealand. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sylvius_V%C3%B6lkner

1937:

The Steel Workers Organizing Committee, precursor to the United Steel Workers of America, had a major success when it signed a collective-bargaining agreement with U.S. Steel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Workers_Organizing_Committee

1962:

Led by General Ne Win, the Burmese military seized power in a coup d'état. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_Burmese_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat

2017:

A naming ceremony for the chemical elements moscovium, tennessine, and oganesson took place at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oganesson

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

conversely: 1. (often conjunctive) With a reversed relationship. 2. (conjunctive, loosely) From another point of view; on the other hand. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/conversely

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity, in the comparison and conciliation of differences. And, ideally, peace means the absence of violence. It is an ethical value.   --Mikhail Gorbachev https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mikhail_Gorbachev