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20th October

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1944: MacArthur returns


On this day, American General Douglas MacArthur returns to the Philippines, wading ashore Leyte Island. The son of an American Civil War hero, MacArthur served as chief U.S. military adviser to the Philippines before World War II. On December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, Japan launched its invasion of the Philippines. Undaunted by his failure to hold the islands of Luzon and Corregidor, he promised the Philippine people, I shall return. On October 20, 1944, after advancing island by island across the Pacific Ocean, MacArthur stepped onto the island of Leyte. In January 1945, his forces invaded the main Philippine island of Luzon. Manila, the Philippine capital, fell in March, and in June MacArthur announced Allied offensive operations on Luzon to be at an end. Scattered Japanese resistance continued until the end of the war in August.

1997

World boxing authorities give former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson a licence to fight again. The last time he was in the ring he bit off part of his opponent's ear.

1997

'Brown Monday' on the London Stock Exchange with £10 billion being wiped off the value of shares after British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown fails to clarify his Government's stance on the European single currency.

1996

Oscar winners 'Wallace and Gromit' disappear after being left in a taxi in New York. Both the lifesize plastic models from Britain's award winning animation film are later found safe and well!

1973

In Australia, Queen Elizabeth II opens he new Sydney Opera House, designed by Danish architect John Utzon.

1968

The wife of assassinated US President John Kennedy, 39 year old Jacqueline Kennedy marries Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

1960

In Britain, D.H Lawrence's controversial novel 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' put Penguin Books in the dock at the Old Bailey, London, accused of publishing obscene material. Penquin Books is eventually found not guilty.

1959

Women's colleges at Oxford University are given equal rights to those of the men's colleges.

1952

Start of the 'Mau Mau' terrorist rebellion by members of the Kikuyu tribe throughout Kenya in east Africa.

1946

'Muffin the Mule' -a wooden puppet operated by Annette Mills (sister of actor Sir John Mills) first appears in a children's televsion programme on BBC TV.

1944

During World War II, American General MacArthur returns to the Philippines as their liberator - fulfilling the promise he made when his forces retreated from the Japanese.

1935

The end of Mao Tse-Tung's 'Long March' - when thousands of Communist Party supporters march from south China to the north of the country.

1922

Fascist Party leader BenitoMussolini siezes power in Italy.

1905

A general strike begins in Russia and lasts for a further 10 days.

1827

The Battle of Navarino, off the coast of Greece, ends with the combined fleets of the British, French and Russian navies destroying the Egyptian and Turkish fleets.

1822

In Britain, the first edition of the Sunday Times newspaper is published.

1818

The 49th Parallel is established by USA and Britain as the official boundary between Canada and the Unted States of America.

1714

Coronation of King George I of England.

1904

English actress Dame Anna Neagle is born Marjorie Robertson in London.After making her film debut in 1930, she plays the heroine in several major films including 'Victoria, The Great' (1937) and 'The Lady With The Lamp' (1951).

1900

Nazi war criminal Heinrich Himmler born in Munich. Joined the Nazi Party in 1925 and made head of the SS (protection guard) by Hitler in 1929. Also becomes head of the Gestapo (secret police) and uses his position to carry out the torture and execution of thousands of 'enemies of the state'. Is responsible for the systematic detention and massacres of European Jews during World War II. Is captured by the British at the end of the war but commits suicide before standing trial for genocide.

1822

English reformer and novelist Thomas Hughes - author of 'Tom Brown' Schooldays' is born at Uffington in Berkshire. As well as becoming a writer, he is trained in law and selected to be a County Court Judge. Also becomes a Liberal MP (1865-1874) concentrating on social reform and supporting trades unionism. 'Tom Brown's Schooldays', written in 1857, is based on his experiences at Rugby School under headmaster Dr Thomas Arnold. Dies in 1896 aged 74.

1632

English architect and astronomer Sir Christopher Wren. Is the son of Dr Christopher Wren, Dean of Windsor. Becomes a distinguished scholar in physics and mathematics appointed Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College, London in 1657. In 1663 he is commissioned to make a study of repairs needed on St Paul's Cathedral. Following the Great Fire of London (1666) he designs and builds more than 50 London churches to replace those destroyed and is the chosen architect to re-build St Paul's Cathedral (1675-1710). Other 'Wren' buildings include the Greenwich Observatory; the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford and several major additions to Westminster Abbey. Dies in 1723 and is buried inside his most notable achievement, St Paul's Cathedral.