Trivia 08 Jun 2012

Jun 8, 1776:
Patriots retreat from Battle of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec

On this day in 1776, Canadian Governor Sir Guy Carleton defeats American
Patriot forces under John Sullivan, who were already in retreat from
Quebec toward Montreal.

Jun 8, 1944
D-Day+2 More Murders of Canadian POWs

Caen France -Canadians move inland from Juno beach; Rommel orders Kurt
Meyer's 12th SS Panzer Grenadiers to attack the Canadian 7th Brigade at
Putot-en-Basin (8 kms west of Caen). They cross the railway and outflank
the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, destroying the three forward companies; the
rest withdraw, leaving their wounded behind; the Canadian Scottish,
Canscots and 1st Hussars then use an artillery barrage from the 12th and
13th field regiments to retake Putot, but Meyer counter-attacks with 22
Panther tanks, the Regina Rifles fight a night-long battle, and hold.
During these fights, the SS murder several Canadian POWs, including six
Winnipeg Rifles, and a Red Cross stretcher-bearer, who are ordered into
a wood and shot in the temple; 13 more Canadians are executed within 100
yards of the Command post; the bodies of 7 more are found near-by, all
shot in the head with small arms; finally, 40 Winnipegsand Cameron
Highlanders are marched into a field, ordered to sit together with the
wounded at their centre, and machine gunned; 5 escape.

Jun 8, 1986:
Waldheim elected Austrian president

At the end of a controversial campaign marked by allegations that he had
participated in Nazi atrocities during World War II, former United
Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim is elected president of Austria,
a largely ceremonial post.

Waldheim admitted that, contrary to earlier statements he made about his
past, he had indeed served in the Balkans during the war, but denied any
involvement in war crimes. On June 8, 1986, he was elected Austrian
president, or head of state. Waldheim was guilty in many people's eyes,
and the United States banned him from entering the country in 1987. His
tenure as Austrian president was marked by a period of international
isolation, and he chose not to run for reelection in 1992.

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Thought of the Day

If you're not scared or angry at the thought of a human brain being
controlled remotely, then it could be this prototype of mine is finally
starting to work.
John Alejandro King

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Question of the Day

What explorer introduced pigs to North America?

Yesterdays Question

What was the only domesticated animal in North America in 1475 B.C.?

Answer

The dog