Thomas Blamey (1884–1951) was an Australian general of the First and Second World Wars, and the only Australian ever to attain the rank of field marshal. He joined the Australian Army as a regular soldier in 1906, and served at Gallipoli, where he led a daring raid behind enemy lines, and on the Western Front as chief of staff of the Australian Corps under Lieutenant General Sir John Monash. During the Second World War he commanded the Second Australian Imperial Force and the I Corps in the Middle East. In 1942, he returned to Australia as Commander in Chief of the Australian Military Forces and Commander of Allied Land Forces in the South West Pacific Area under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. On the orders of MacArthur and Prime Minister John Curtin, he assumed personal command of New Guinea Force during the Kokoda Track Campaign. He won a series of victories over the Japanese, including the Battle of Wau and the landing at Nadzab, and signed on behalf of Australia at Japan's ceremonial surrender in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. He was promoted to field marshal in June 1950.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Blamey
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
41:
Cassius Chaerea and the disgruntled Praetorian Guards murdered Roman emperor Caligula (bust pictured), replacing him with his uncle Claudius. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula
1458:
The 14-year-old Matthias Corvinus was unanimously proclaimed King of Hungary, after the Estates were persuaded to do so by his uncle Michael Szilágyi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Corvinus
1848:
James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California, leading to the California Gold Rush. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush
1989:
American serial killer Ted Bundy was executed via electric chair in Florida for the homicides of at least 30 women. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Bundy
2011:
A suicide bomber killed at least 37 people at Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domodedovo_International_Airport_bombing
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
alicorn: (now historical) The horn of a unicorn considered as a medical or pharmacological ingredient. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/alicorn
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
I warrant you, if he danced till doomsday, he thought I was to pay the piper. --William Congreve https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Congreve
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