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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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