As a member of the Victorian Parliament (1895–99), he championed
federation and women's suffrage. He became a member of the first
Australian Federal Parliament in 1901 and was Minister for Defence
(1904–05), where his long-lasting reforms included creating the
Military Board. In World War I, McCay commanded the 2nd Infantry Brigade
of the Australian Army in the landing at Anzac Cove, during the
Gallipoli Campaign. He was later wounded in the Second Battle of Krithia
and sent home, but returned to command the 5th Division, which he led in
the Battle of Fromelles in 1916, dubbed "the worst 24 hours in
Australia's entire history". His failures in difficult military
operations made him a controversial figure who earned the disfavour of
his superiors, and his efforts to succeed in the face of insurmountable
obstacles earned him the odium of troops under his command, who blamed
him for high casualties. After the war, McCay resumed his old job as
Deputy Chairman of the State Bank of Victoria; his other public roles
included commanding the Special Constabulary Force during the 1923
Victorian Police strike.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whiteside_McCay>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1826:
American settlers in Mexican Texas made the first attempt to
secede from Mexico, establishing the short-lived Republic of Fredonia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredonian_Rebellion>
1844:
The Rochdale Pioneers, usually considered the first successful
co-operative enterprise, opened their store in Rochdale, England, and
formed the basis for the modern co-operative movement.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_cooperative_movement>
1923:
Nepal and the United Kingdom signed a treaty, the first to
define the international status of Nepal as an independent and a
sovereign nation.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal%E2%80%93Britain_Treaty_of_1923>
1965:
The United Nations adopted the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which 87 member
nations have since signed.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Convention_on_the_Elimination_of_All_Forms_of_Racial_Discrimination>
1994:
Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano, dormant for 47 years, began
erupting, and is now the nation's most active volcano.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popocat%C3%A9petl>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
solstitial:
1. Pertaining to a solstice: a solstitial point, the solstitial meridian
plane, avenues with a solstitial orientation.
2. Occurring on a solstice: the solstitial half-moon, a solstitial event.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/solstitial>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
The light Begin to bleed, Begin to breathe, Begin to speak.
D'you know what? I love you better now.
--Kate Bush
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kate_Bush>
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