120px|HMAS Australia

HMAS Australia was one of three Indefatigable-class battlecruisers built for the defence of the British Empire. She was launched in 1911, and commissioned as flagship of the fledgling Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1913. At the start of World War I, Australia was tasked with finding and destroying the German East Asia Squadron, which was prompted to withdraw from the Pacific by the battlecruiser's presence. Repeated diversions to support the capture of German colonies in New Guinea and Samoa, as well as an overcautious Admiralty, prevented the battlecruiser from engaging the German squadron before the latter's destruction. Australia was then assigned to North Sea operations, which consisted primarily of patrols and exercises, until the end of the war. During this time, Australia was involved in early attempts at naval aviation, and 11 of her personnel participated in the Zeebrugge Raid. Post-war budget cuts saw Australia's role downgraded to a training ship before she was placed in reserve in 1921. The disarmament provisions of the Washington Naval Treaty required the destruction of Australia as part of Britain's commitment, and she was scuttled off Sydney Heads in 1924. (more...)

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1861:

The Toronto Stock Exchange, the stock exchange with the most mining and petrochemical companies listed in the world, was established. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Stock_Exchange

1875:

The first performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, one of his most popular compositions, was given in Boston with Hans von Bülow as soloist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No._1_%28Tchaikovsky%29

1920:

Irish playwright and politician Terence MacSwiney died after 74 days on hunger strike in Brixton Prison, bringing the Irish struggle for independence to international attention. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_MacSwiney

1983:

The United States and Caribbean allies invaded Grenada, six days after Bernard Coard seized power in a violent coup d'état. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Grenada

1997:

Denis Sassou Nguesso seized the presidency of the Republic of the Congo after ousting Pascal Lissouba after the first phase of the Congolese civil war. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Sassou_Nguesso

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

verily (adv): 1. Truly, doubtlessly, in truth. 2. Confidently, certainly http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/verily

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The lyf so short, the craft so longe to lerne.

Th’ assay so hard, so sharp the conquerynge, The dredful joye, alwey that slit so yerne;

Al this mene I be love. --Geoffrey Chaucer http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucer