100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

16th February 1920

British Nurse executed as a spy by the Germans, Edith Cavell's Memorial is under construction.

[Jimbuna]

17th February 1920

Jovan Babunski, a Serbian Revolutionary (Chetnik) commander who fought during the Macedonian Struggle, Balkan Wars, and the Great War, has passed away at age 41 due to influenza.


A woman named Anna Anderson tries to commit suicide in Berlin and is taken to a mental hospital where she claims she is Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia.

[Jimbuna]

18th February 1920

Creation of the Canadian Air Force is authorized by the Canadian government.


Inauguration procession for the new French President Paul Deschanel.


Ship Losses:

Amelia Zeman (United States) The schooner departed from Norfolk, Virginia for Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. No further trace, presumed foundered in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of all hands.
Joan Hickman (United Kingdom) The schooner was driven ashore near Chipiona, Cádiz, Spain. Her crew were rescued by Cabo Roche ( Spain).
Rostellan (United States) The four-masted schooner sprang a leak in the Atlantic Ocean and was abandoned. Her crew were rescued.

[Jimbuna]

19th February 1920

British soldiers in snow-covered Jerusalem putting up electrical lines.


Russian orphans in Siberia receiving Cracker Jack from the American Red Cross.

[Jimbuna]

20th February 1920

U.S. Signal Corps men deliver motion picture reels to the White House for President Wilson.


Secretary of War Baker today presents eleven Distinguished Service Medals and two distinguished Service Crosses previously awarded to officers and civilians.


American explorer Robert Peary has passed away. He claimed to be the first person to have reached the geographic North Pole, although the claim is now disputed.


Ship Losses:

Aghia Paraskevi (Greece) The cargo ship was wrecked off Cape St. Thomas, Argentina with the loss of fifteen of her crew. Survivors were rescued by Carnarvonshire ( United Kingdom).
Commandant Dorise (France) The cargo ship was destroyed by fire at Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône.
Kamma (Denmark) The schooner was driven ashore on the south coast of Skagen and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued by a lifeboat.

[Jimbuna]

21st February 1920

Afonso, Duke of Porto and the last Prince Royal of Portugal has passed away. Portugal abolished its monarchy in 1910.


Ship Losses:

City of Cologne (United Kingdom) The cargo ship collided with another vessel and was beached at Barry Island, Glamorgan.

[Jimbuna]

22nd February 1920

Protestors gathered round the statue of Hermann von Helmholtz in Berlin to demonstrate against the extradition of criminals.


Ship Losses:

Valdez (United States) The 12 GRT 35.7-foot (10.9 m) cargo ship was wrecked in Portage Bay near Kanatak, Territory of Alaska. All four people on board survived.

[Jimbuna]

23rd February 1920

War Secretary Winston Churchill announces that conscripts will be replaced by a volunteer army of 220,000 men.

Cover of French newspaper “Le Petit Journal” showing the borders of Poland still in flux.


Funeral of Admiral Robert Edwin Peary,Washington,DC,District of Columbia,1920.


Kung Te-cheng, the 77th generation descendant of Confucius, is born in Qufu, Shandong. His father Kong Lingyi and mother in Qingdao.


Ship Losses:

Hilton (United Kingdom) The full-rigged ship collided with Fahrwold ( Finland) in the River Plate and sank with the loss of seven of her crew. Survivors were rescued by Cabo Santa Maria ( Spain).
Kemmel (United Kingdom) The turret deck ship caught fire at São Vicente, Cape Verde, Portugal. She was beached but was declared a total loss on 6 April.
Maria I (Norway) The auxiliary schooner caught fire in the North Sea and was abandoned. Her crew were rescued by the trawler Nairana ( United Kingdom).
Strathord (United Kingdom) The fishing trawler struck a mine in the North Sea and sank with the loss of all nine crew.

[Jimbuna]

24th February 1920

The NSDAP or Nazi Party is founded. At the Hofbräuhaus am Platz in Munich, Adolf Hitler gives a speech laying out the 25 points of the party.

German POWs held in Japan return to Wilhelmshaven, Germany.


Turkish troops in Thrace marching.


Ship Losses:

Gwendolen Warren (United Kingdom) The schooner foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued by Pikepool ( United Kingdom).

[Jimbuna]

25th February 1920

French railway workers on strike in the Bois de Vincennes, Paris.


Secretary of Navy Josephus Daniels (center) seated with Admiral [Trevylyan] Napier, R.N.; standing left to right: Capt. Blake of Naval Attache British Embassy, Admiral Long of U.S.N., Lt. Curzon-Howe, R.N., Com. Bevan, R.N., Com. Foote, U.S.N.


Ship Losses:

Osnabruck (Reichsmarine) The Osnabruck-class Vorpostenboot was sunk by a mine.

[Jimbuna]

26th February 1920

U.S. Marines guard captured Haitian rebels outside Port-au-Prince. U.S. forces have been occupying Haiti since 1915


The newly appointed Ambassador to Italy, Robert Underwood Johnson photographed as he left to White House after his interview with the President.


Ship Losses:

Llovet Hermanos (Spain) The schooner was destroyed by fire at Valencia.

[Jimbuna]

27th February 1920

The first opening of the Canadian Parliament in the New Parliament Building. A fire destroyed the previous structure in 1916


Major RW Schroeder exceeds 10,000 meters above sea level in Dayton (Ohio) aboard a "Lepère" (10,093 m).


Ship Losses:

Carrier Dove (United States) The schooner ran aground on a reef at Levuka, Fiji.

[Jimbuna]

28th February 1920

Railway cars in Berlin used as temporary accommodations due to a housing shortage.


Ship Losses:

Gallacier (Belgium) The cargo ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean (36°22′N 7°08′W).
Schiedam (Netherlands) The schooner ran aground at Hoek van Holland, South Holland. Her crew were rescued by rocket apparatus.
Lucanio Manara (Italy) The cargo ship was destroyed by fire in the Sea of Marmara .
War Casco (United Kingdom) The cargo ship caught fire at Gibraltar and was a total loss.

[Jimbuna]

29th February 1920

Soldiers of the Czechoslovak Legion in Siberia.


Group of striking railway workers at Saint Lazare station, Paris.


Last known communication with cargo ship SS Cubadist. Left Havana on Feb 26 for Baltimore. Carrying 1,600,000 gallons of molasses to make rum for the Cuba Distilling Company. Ship never found or recovered.

Ship Losses:

Cubadist (United States) The cargo ship was reported to be 111 nautical miles (206 km) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. No further trace, presumed foundered with the loss of all hands.
Pregel (Denmark) The cargo ship ran aground at Esbjerg. Her crew were rescued by HDMS Absalom ( Royal Danish Navy).
Tungus (Norway) The cargo ship ran aground on Cayo Arenas, Puerto Rico. She was refloated on 10 March.

[Jimbuna]

1st March 1920

Korean Americans march in Dinuba, California on the first anniversary of the March 1st Movement in support of Korean independence from Japan.


Admiral Miklós Horthy is appointed as Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary, effectively taking control over the country.


Battle of Tel Hai occurs in Palestine in one of the first clashes between Zionist Jews and Palestinian Arabs. Russian Zionist activist Joseph Trumpeldor is killed in the fighting.


Ship Losses:

Bohemian (United Kingdom) The cargo liner ran aground off Sambro, Nova Scotia, Canada. She broke in two on 2 March, and was a total loss. Five of her crew were killed.
Tinto (United Kingdom) The cargo liner ran aground on the wreck of Manorbier Castle (United Kingdom) She refloated but was holed and sank. Her crew were rescued. She was damaged by an explosion during salvage operations on 4 March. Tinto was refloated in early June. She arrived at Grimsby, Lincolnshire for drydocking on 3 June.