Today in History
Twenty year old Private Albert Brewster Roden was killed in Lebanon when he accidentally fired a confiscated rifle that he was checking.
Friday, October 18, 1981
Thursday, October 18, 1962 More than 20 types of birds in Suva area
MR B Morgan and his wife, in the last 10 months, have identified and studied 31 different types of birds within 10 miles of Suva. Mr Morgan, a keen amateur ornithologist, gave this information in an address to the Fiji Society. Mr Morgan’s hobby has taken him from Canada to New Zealand and Europe. While on an extensive study of birdlife in the northwest regions of Canada Mr Morgan married.
Monday, October 18, 1971 Masked man threatens 72-year-old hotel guest
A MASKED man threatened the 72-year-old occupant of a hotel room at Nadi, the Commissioner of Police, Mr R.T.M Henry said at his weekly press conference. Mr Henry said the man fled when the woman screamed. “Police dogs were used in a search and a person was helping the police in the investigation,” Mr Henry said. The police and the management of the Gateway hotel, gave the name of the room occupant as Waanata Beslobehillard. She was reported to be from Bia Custila in California. At his press conference, Mr Henry said the police had noticed in the Western Division an “amateurish trend” involving petty theft from tourists.
Wednesday, October 18, 1972 Ba woman and son hacked to death
A MOTHER and son were hacked to death and two other family members critically injured in a five-minute orgy of violence at Moto, Ba. Ten cane cutters stood watching the carnage. Only one tried to restrain the assailant. Those killed were Parwati, 40 wife of Saga Dewan and her son Mun Samy, 21. A young daughter of the dead woman, Pushpa Wati and a cousin, Krishna Murthy Gounder were admitted to Lautoka Hospital suffering multiple injuries. Mr Gounder, a teacher at Ba Sangam Primary School had a hand severed and suffered cuts to his head. Miss Pushpa Wati suffered deep cuts on her thigh.
Sunday, October 18, 1981 Fiji soldier killed in Lebanon
ANOTHER Fiji soldier has died on service in Lebanon. He is Private Albert Brewster Roden, 20, of Nukuwatu, Lami. A United Nations spokesman said that Private Roden was killed when he accidentally fired a confiscated rifle that he was checking. “The incident occurred at a UNIFIL post near the southern coastal town of Tyre,” the spokesman said. Private Roden is the 14th Fiji soldier to die on the service in Lebanon, and the 7Oth UNIFIL soldier killed since the force was set up in 1976.