Today is the 100th anniversary of the commemoration of Armistice Day, originally set to recall the end of hostilities of First World War on 11 November 1918. Hostilities formally ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month”, in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. (“At the 11th hour” … Continue reading 100th Anniversary of Remembrance Day
With researching the “town New Zealand saved” earlier this week and yesterday’s Anzac Day commemoration, I became quite interested in New Zealand’s contribution to World War I, specifically the role of the indigenous Māori soldiers in the war. Scott #167 is the only stamp I currently own from the 1920 Victory set so it seems an appropriate subject for today’s “random stamp”. I plan to add … Continue reading New Zealand and the Māori in World War I
April 25 is observed each year as Anzac Day — a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served”. Anzac Day was originally devised to honor the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army … Continue reading Anzac Day, Lest We Forget
On those days that I choose a random stamp to feature when an event anniversary doesn’t match up with something in my collection, I never know in advance what will catch my eye. One of my few firm criteria for “random stamp days” is that an issue from the United States is NOT featured as the nation is aptly covered with commemorations (although, in time, … Continue reading The Town New Zealand Saved
Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria, Archduke of Austria-Este, Austro-Hungarian and Royal Prince of Hungary and of Bohemia and, from 1896 until his death, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne was born on this day, December 18, in 1863. His assassination in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, precipitated Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war against Serbia which caused the Central Powers (including Germany and Austria-Hungary) and Serbia’s … Continue reading Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The Union of Transylvania with Romania was declared on December 1, 1918 (November 18, 1918, under the Old Style Julian calendar) by the assembly of the delegates of ethnic Romanians held in Alba Iulia. The national holiday of Romania, the Great Union Day (also called Unification Day), celebrates this event every December 1. The holiday was established after the Romanian Revolution, and marks the unification not only of Transylvania, but also of the provinces of Banat, Bessarabia and Bukovina with the Romanian Kingdom. … Continue reading Romanian Great Union Day
The South Orkney Islands are a group of islands in the Southern Ocean, about 375 miles (604 kilometers) north-east of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, situated at latitudes about 60°30′ to 60°83′ S and longitudes 44°25′ to 46°25′ W. The archipelago comprises four main islands. Coronation Island is the largest, measuring about 30 miles (48 km) long; its highest point is Mount Nivea which … Continue reading South Orkney Islands #4L2 (1944)
In 1885 and 1890, respectively, the German Empire annexed the two independent African kingdoms of Rwanda and Burundi, forming the northwestern portion of what became the colony of German East Africa. This area was not effectively occupied or controlled by the colonial power, however. For the Belgians, the German presence in East Africa was a threat to the security of Congo. During World War I, … Continue reading German East Africa Under Belgian Occupation #N17 (1916)
A Stamp A Day 