100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

11th September 1920

The Hôtel National at Geneva, which will become the headquarters of the League of Nations.

[Jimbuna]

12th September 1920

Japanese battlecruiser Haruna suffers an explosion in its turret during gunnery drills, causing the deaths of 7 sailors.

[Jimbuna]

13th September 1920

Royal Navy Battlecruiser HMS Renown transiting the Panama Canal.

[Jimbuna]

14th September 1920

Locomotive in Lithuania burning wood instead of coal due to shortages.


Street vendor in Danzig selling Prussian and Imperial German flags.


Polish cavalry in Warsaw near the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (demolished in 1924)


Ship Losses:

Fylla (Denmark) The schooner departed Campbellton, Newfoundland for Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom. No further trace, presumed foundered in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of all hands.
Mary L. Oxner (United Kingdom) The schooner ran aground on the Silver Bank, off the Turks Islands and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued.
Vermillion (United States) Under tow by the tug Barrelton ( United States) from Norfolk, Virginia, to Fall River, Massachusetts, with a cargo of coal, the barge sank in the Atlantic Ocean 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km; 5.2 mi) east by north of Montauk Point Light on Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, after colliding with the sunken wreck of the cargo ship Snug Harbor ( United States). Vermillion and her cargo were declared a total loss.
Winstead (United States) Under tow by the tug Barrelton ( United States) from Norfolk, Virginia, to Fall River, Massachusetts, with a cargo of coal, the barge sank in the Atlantic Ocean 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km; 5.2 mi) east by north of Montauk Point Light on Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, after colliding with the sunken wreck of the cargo ship Snug Harbor ( United States). Winstead and her cargo were declared a total loss.

[Jimbuna]

15th September 1920

Ship Losses:

Charles A. Ritcey (Canada) The schooner was wrecked at Rose Head, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia with the loss of her captain.
Havfruen (Denmark) The cargo ship collided with United States ( Denmark) in the Lessoe Channel. She was towed into Frederikshavn, Nordjylland, where she capsized with the loss of a crew member.
Salgyr (Russian Navy White Movement) Russian Civil War: Battle of Obytichnyi Split. The gunboat was shelled and sunk in the Sea of Azov off Berdyansk by Krasnaya Zvezda ( Soviet Navy). Two crewmen killed. Survivors were rescued by Ural ( Russian Navy White Movement).
Spyrios (Greece) The cargo ship sprang a leak and sank in the Atlantic Ocean off the Eddystone Lighthouse, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Her crew survived.

[Jimbuna]

16th September 1920

Nab Tower, a British floating defence tower to defend against submarines, being launched in Shoreham Harbour.


Ship Losses:

Charles A. Ritcey (United Kingdom) The schooner was lost off Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada.

[Jimbuna]

17th September 1920

French President Paul Deschanel resigns after a series of eccentric behavior, such as falling out of a train and walking fully clothed into a lake during a state meeting.


The King’s Guard of Serbia marching in Belgrade.


American athletes returning home from the Antwerp Olympics on the RMS Aquitania.


Ship Losses:

Warita (United Kingdom) The coaster was severely damaged by fire at Fleetwood, Lancashire.

[Jimbuna]

18th September 1920

Deposed Emperor Karl I of Austria-Hungary in exile with his children at Prangins, Switzerland.

[Jimbuna]

19th September 1920

[September 19th, 1920] Verdun, France.


Ship Losses:

Zelo (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck the wreck of Merkur (Finland) and sank in the Bristol Channel off Barry Island, Glamorgan with the loss of one of her 27 crew.

[Jimbuna]

20th September 1920

The Spanish Legion accepts its first recruit (the day is celebrated as the unit’s anniversary). The first commander is José Millán Astray (pictured with Francisco Franco)


Seaplane at the Schneider Cup race in Venice.


Ship Losses:

Prince Rupert (Canada) The passenger ship struck a reef in Swanson Bay on the coast of British Columbia in Canada and was beached in a sinking condition. After her passengers and crew had been put ashore, she became almost completely submerged at high tide. She was refloated, repaired, and returned to service.

[Jimbuna]

21st September 1920

Italian soldiers led by nationalist Gabriele D'Annunzio marching in the streets of Fiume (Rijeka, Croatia)


The “Sack of Balbriggan” occurs when British Black and Tans destroys more than 50 buildings in the Irish town as retaliation for the shooting of two police officers by the IRA

[Jimbuna]

22nd September 1920

In the Rineen Ambush, the IRA ambush a Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) lorry, killing 6. As reprisals, RIC and British military raid the local area, killing 5 civilians and burning several buildings.


Ship Losses:

Nea Ellas (Greece) The cargo ship ran aground on the Brazilian coast (5°11′S 35°10′W). She was refloated on 28 September.

[Jimbuna]

23rd September 1920

Prime Minister Alexandre Millerand is selected by the French Parliament as the new President of France.


Ship Losses:

I. D. S. Adolph (Denmark) The cargo ship ran aground on Middelgrunden. She was refloated on 28 September.

[Jimbuna]

24th September 1920

Photo caption reads 'September 24, 1920: IJN Battleship "MUTSU" at Yokosuka Naval Yard under construction.


Ship Losses:

USS Cushing (United States Navy) The decommissioned torpedo boat was sunk as a target.

[Jimbuna]

25th September 1920

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization is founded by Judge Robert S. Marx to support wounded veterans of the Great War.


Construction of the USS Saratoga as a battlecruiser begins (she is converted to an aircraft carrier in 1922 and fights in several Pacific War battles)


Ship Losses:

Annavore (United Kingdom) The cargo ship collided with España No.4 ( Spain) and was consequently beached at Bonanza, Cadiz, Spain. She broke in two on 27 September.