28 July - S.S Komagata Maru was forced to leave Vancouver in 1914

 

On 28 July 1914, The S.S Komagata Maru was forced to leave Vancouver and sailed for India.

The Komagata Maru incident involved the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru, on which a group of citizens of the British Raj attempted to emigrate to Canada in 1914, but were denied entry and forced to return to Calcutta (present-day Kolkata), India. There they were fired upon by Indian Imperial Police, resulting in the deaths of 20 Sikhs.

Komagata Maru sailed from British Hong Kong, via Shanghai, China, and Yokohama, Japan, to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1914, carrying 376 passengers from Punjab, British India. Of them, 24 were admitted to Canada, but the other 352 passengers were not allowed to disembark in Canada, and the ship was forced to return to India.The passengers comprised 337 Sikhs, 27 Muslims and 12 Hindus, all Punjabis and British subjects. This was one of several incidents in the early 20th century in which exclusion laws in Canada and the United States were used to exclude immigrants of Asian origin.

08 July - Vasco da Gama set sail on his first voyage in 1497

 

On 8 July 1497, Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama set sail on his first voyage, which would eventually lead to the discovery of a sea route from Europe to India. Da Gama's expedition was commissioned by the Portuguese king, Manuel I, with the objective of finding a direct maritime route to India, bypassing the overland routes controlled by the Ottoman Empire.

Da Gama commanded a fleet of four vessels, including his flagship, the São Gabriel, along with the São Rafael, the Berrio, and a supply ship. The crew consisted of about 170 men, including sailors, soldiers, and interpreters. They departed from Lisbon, Portugal, and embarked on a perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean, along the western coast of Africa.

The voyage was fraught with numerous challenges, including treacherous weather, unfamiliar territories, and scarcity of supplies. The crew faced sickness, hunger, and the loss of lives during the voyage. Nevertheless, da Gama's determination and navigational skills allowed him to overcome these obstacles.

After navigating along the African coast, Vasco da Gama reached the southern tip of Africa, which he named the Cape of Good Hope. From there, he continued eastward, crossing the Indian Ocean. On 20 May 1498, after several months at sea, da Gama's expedition finally made landfall at the port of Calicut (now Kozhikode) on the southwestern coast of India.

This significant achievement established the first direct sea route from Europe to India, opening up lucrative trade opportunities and solidifying Portugal's position as a major maritime power. Da Gama's successful voyage paved the way for subsequent Portuguese expeditions and the establishment of Portuguese colonies and trading posts throughout the Indian Ocean, shaping the course of history in the Age of Exploration.

 

The Battle of Midway

 

The Battle of Midway was a crucial naval battle that took place from June 4 to June 7, 1942, during World War II. It was fought between the United States and the Empire of Japan in the Pacific Theater.

The battle occurred six months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and marked a turning point in the war in the Pacific. The Japanese sought to eliminate the remaining United States Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers, which they considered a threat to their expansion in the Pacific.

The battle primarily took place near the Midway Atoll, a strategic island located roughly halfway between the United States and Japan. The United States had intercepted Japanese communications and knew the general plans of the Japanese fleet, enabling them to prepare a defense.

The American forces, led by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, were outnumbered but managed to surprise the Japanese fleet. Through a combination of strategic planning, effective intelligence, and bravery, the U.S. forces inflicted severe damage on the Japanese fleet, sinking four of their aircraft carriers.

The Battle of Midway was a decisive victory for the United States. It not only halted Japanese expansion in the Pacific but also severely weakened their naval capabilities. The battle shifted the balance of power in the Pacific in favor of the United States and marked a turning point in the war.

The Battle of Midway is often considered one of the most significant naval battles in history. It demonstrated the importance of intelligence, airpower, and naval strategy, and it boosted American morale while dealing a significant blow to Japanese forces.

31 May - The RMS Titanic is launched in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

 

The RMS Titanic, a famous British passenger liner, was indeed launched on May 31, 1911, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The ship was constructed by the shipbuilding company Harland and Wolff at their shipyard in Belfast. The launch of the Titanic was a highly anticipated event as it was one of the largest and most luxurious ships of its time.

The Titanic was part of the White Star Line fleet and was built to be the ultimate luxury liner, boasting advanced technologies and lavish amenities. It was designed to provide a high level of comfort and opulence for its passengers, with luxurious accommodations, exquisite dining areas, and extensive recreational facilities.

However, tragically, the RMS Titanic's maiden voyage ended in disaster. On April 14, 1912, the ship struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean and sank in the early hours of April 15, resulting in the loss of more than 1,500 lives. The sinking of the Titanic remains one of the most well-known maritime disasters in history.

The launch of the Titanic was a significant moment in maritime history, representing a remarkable achievement in shipbuilding and design. Despite its tragic fate, the Titanic continues to capture the public's imagination and serves as a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of even the most grand and seemingly unsinkable creations.

ON THIS DAY: - 31st May 1911

ON THIS DAY: - 31st May 1911

Titanic was launched, built for the White Star Line by Harland & Wolff in Belfast and when completed she sailed from Belfast on 2nd April 1912, bound for Southampton.

(Pictures of the stamps shown here are Library Pictures)

30 May - Christopher Columbus embarked on his third voyage to the Americas in 1948

 

Christopher Columbus embarked on his third voyage to the Americas with a fleet of six ships on 30 May 1498. This voyage took place in 1498, following his initial voyages in 1492 and 1493. The purpose of Columbus's third expedition was to continue exploring and expanding the territories claimed by Spain.

The fleet consisted of three ships that were carried over from his second voyage: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Additionally, three new ships were added to the expedition: the Santiago de Palos, the San Cristobal, and the San Juan Bautista. These six vessels set sail from the Spanish port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda in present-day southwestern Spain.

Columbus's third voyage differed from his previous ones in terms of the route he took. Instead of heading directly west across the Atlantic, he opted for a more southern route. He sailed along the coast of South America, exploring the regions of present-day Venezuela, Trinidad, and the islands of the Caribbean.

During this expedition, Columbus encountered various challenges and hardships. The voyagers faced severe storms, navigational difficulties, and tensions among the crew. Additionally, they struggled with adverse weather conditions, such as hurricanes and strong currents.

Columbus's exploration during his third voyage contributed to expanding European knowledge of the American continents. He explored parts of the South American mainland, including the Orinoco River, and continued to search for valuable resources and trade routes.

Despite his efforts, Columbus did not achieve all of his objectives during this voyage. His inability to find significant quantities of gold and his clashes with indigenous populations led to growing discontent among the crew. As a result, Columbus faced criticism and opposition upon his return to Spain.

Nonetheless, Columbus's third voyage remains an important chapter in the history of European exploration and the colonization of the Americas. It furthered European understanding of the vastness and diversity of the New World and contributed to the ongoing process of European expansion and colonization in the following centuries.

The British navy sinks the German battleship Bismarck on 27 May 1941

 

On May 27, 1941, the British navy sinks the German battleship Bismarck in the North Atlantic near France. The German death toll was more than 2,000.

On February 14, 1939, the 823-foot Bismarck was launched at Hamburg. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler hoped that the state-of-the-art battleship would herald the rebirth of the German surface battle fleet. However, after the outbreak of war, Britain closely guarded ocean routes from Germany to the Atlantic Ocean, and only U-boats moved freely through the war zone.

In May 1941, the order was given for the Bismarck to break out into the Atlantic. Once in the safety of the open ocean, the battleship would be almost impossible to track down, all the while wreaking havoc on Allied convoys to Britain. Learning of its movement, Britain sent almost the entire British Home Fleet in pursuit. On May 24, the British battle cruiser Hood and battleship Prince of Wales intercepted it near Iceland. In a ferocious battle, the Hood exploded and sank, and all but three of the 1,421 crewmen were killed. The Bismarck escaped, but because it was leaking fuel it fled for occupied France.

On May 26, the ship was sighted and crippled by British aircraft, and on May 27 three British warships descended on the Bismarck, inflicting heavy damage. By mid-morning, the pride of the German navy had become a floating wreck with numerous fires aboard, unable to steer and with her guns almost useless because she was listing badly to port. Soon, the command went out to scuttle the ship, and the Bismarck quickly sank. Of a 2,221-man crew, only 115 survived. 

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