Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
On 24, Wednesday March 1869, A fatal case of cholera is reported in Sydney.
On 24, Wednesday March 1869, Titokowaru’s War ends with the surrender of the last Māori troops at large, in the South Taranaki District of New Zealand’s North Island.
On 24, Wednesday March 1869, Antoine-Henri Jomini, French general, died (b. 1779)
On 24, Monday March 1919, One of the most notable incidents of the Red Flag Riots occurred in Brisbane, Queensland, when a crowd of returned servicemen clashed with police. The incident had been sparked the previous day by a socialist demonstration against the continued operation of the War Precautions Act, which had angered many of the returned soldiers.
On 24, Monday March 1919, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, American poet and publisher
On 24, Friday March 1944, WWII: Ardeatine massacre: 335 Italians are killed, including 75 Jews and over 200 members of the Italian Resistance from various groups, in Rome.
On 24, Friday March 1944, In the Polish village of Markowa, German police kill Józef and Wiktoria Ulm, their six children and eight Jews they were hiding.
On 24, Friday March 1944, The “Great Escape”: 76 Royal Air Force prisoners of war escape by tunnel “Harry” from Stalag Luft III this night. Only three men, two Norwegians and a Dutchman, return to the UK; of those recaptured, fifty are summarily executed soon afterwards in the Stalag Luft III murders.
On 24, Friday March 1944, R. Lee Ermey, U.S. Marine and actor, born (d. 2018)
On 24, Friday March 1944, Aldo Finzi, Italian politician (executed), died (b. 1891)
On 24, Friday March 1944, Pietro Pappagallo, Italian Roman Catholic priest and blessed, died (b. 1888)
On 24, Friday March 1944, Orde Wingate, British soldier, died (b. 1903)
On 24, Tuesday March 1959, Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi, Sudanese political figure and religious leader, Imam of the Ansar and 1st Prime Minister of Sudan, died (b. 1885)
On 24, Monday March 1969, Stephan Eberharter, Austrian alpine skier, born
On 24, Monday March 1969, Joseph Kasavubu, 1st President of Congo-Léopoldville, died (b. 1910)
On 24, Saturday March 1979, Yvonne Mitchell, English actress, died (b. 1915)
On 24, Friday March 1989, James Sellar, Australian rules footballer, born
On 24, Friday March 1989, Aziz Shavershian, Australian bodybuilder, born (d. 2011)
On 24, Friday March 1989, Exxon Valdez oil spill: In Alaska’s Prince William Sound, the Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 barrels (38,000 m3) of oil after running aground.
On 24, Friday March 1989, Aziz Shavershian, Australian bodybuilder, born (d. 2011), born
On 24, Thursday March 1994, Federal Health Minister Graham Richardson resigns and he is replaced by Carmen Lawrence. John Faulkner enters Cabinet with the Environment portfolio.
On 24, Wednesday March 1999, Media mogul Kerry Packer publicly endorses views that the Federal Government should deregulate the media and abolish cross-media ownership rules which stop Packer from taking over the Fairfax newspaper group, as well as calling for foreign ownership restrictions to be lifted.
On 24, Wednesday March 1999, NATO launches air strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, marking the first time NATO has attacked a sovereign state.
On 24, Wednesday March 1999, A fire in the Mont Blanc Tunnel kills 39 people, closing the tunnel for nearly three years.
On 24, Wednesday March 1999, Arina Openysheva, Russian swimmer, born
On 24, Tuesday March 2009, Laurie Short, 93, trade union leader, died
On 24, Monday March 2014, During an emergency meeting, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, Germany, France, Japan, and Canada temporarily suspend Russia from the G8.
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch