ON THIS DAY

1903

One of the world’s most famous sporting events made its debut 115 years ago today. The first Tour de France took 18 days and covered 2428km. In 2018 it lasted 22 days over 3329km. Sixty cyclists lined up then — professional and semi-professional — and Frenchman Maurice Garin won. The Tour’s history includes super-human endurance, frenzied fans and some of the most infamous sports drug cheating. This year’s Tour begins next Saturday. Kiwi Jack Bauer is up again — in 2014 he nearly won a stage. Two earlier campaigns ended by injury.

1916

The first bloody salvos were fired in the Battle of the Somme — allies Britain and France against Germany, lasting until November 18, 1916. It is remembered as one of the most destructive battles in history. More than one million soldiers were wounded or killed. New Zealand joined in September 1916 — our first major WWI battle since Gallipoli. About 18,000 Kiwis saw action in the Battle of the Somme: almost 6000 were injured there and more than 2100 killed. Tragically, more than 1100 Kiwis who died at the Somme have no known graves. Their names are displayed on the New Zealand Memorial to the Missing, at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, near Longueval, France.

1988

A decade after the end of the Bastion Point protest in Auckland, the Government agreed to return the land to Ngāti Whātua. The January 5, 1977, occupation lasted 506 days, begun after the Government announced the Māori land would be built on with houses. More than 200 protesters were arrested. Later, the Government paid the hāpu $3 million, returned land, and set aside Takaparawhau/Bastion Point and Okahu Bay Reserve to be managed by representatives of the hapū and the Auckland Council.