TODAY IN HISTORY

55BC

Julius Caesar’s Roman forces set sail from France to invade Britain for the first time.

1894

Union shearers force strike breakers off the Murray River steamer Rodney near Pooncarie, NSW, and burn and sink the vessel.

1900

At the Paris Olympics, a Dutch rowing team use a French boy as cox, and win. The boy, about seven, disappears after the medal ceremony, perhaps the youngest Games champion.

1916

The 6th Australian Brigade attacks Mouquet Farm on the Somme near Pozieres. Some 11,000 Australians are killed or wounded .

1932

The NSW Industrial Commission reduces the state’s basic wage from 4 2s 6d to 3 10s due to the Great Depression.

1978

Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice is elected pope and takes the name John Paul I. He serves only 33 days before dying of a heart attack.

1999

Parliament passes a motion by prime minister John Howard expressing “deep and sincere regret” for past injustices to Aborigines.

2001

The Norwegian freighter Tampa rescues more than 400 asylum seekers from a fishing boat off Christmas Island after a distress call.