TODAY IN HISTORY

In 1917, the third battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele, began in Belgium during the First World War. The Canadian Corps under Lt.-Gen. Sir Arthur Currie were part of an Allied contingent fighting in appalling muddy conditions. The Canadians captured Passchendaele Ridge on Nov. 7 after earlier attempts by the Australians, New Zealanders and British had failed. The Canadians suffered over 15,000 dead and wounded in the battle and were awarded nine Victoria Crosses for bravery.

Also today:

In 1763, the British, besieged by natives at Detroit, suffered heavy losses in the battle of Bloody Run against Chief Pontiac. While he failed to oust the British from native lands, Ottawa chief Pontiac led one of the most successful fights against the European invasion in Canadian history and forced British authorities to recognize native rights.

In 1790, the first U.S. patent was issued to Samuel Hopkins of Vermont for the chemical formula for potash used in making soap and glass. In 1877, Thomas Edison patented the first sound-recording device. In 1989, Newsworld, the CBC 24-hour news and information channel, broadcast for the first time. The first broadcast of CBC’s all-news cable channel originated in Halifax and was received by 4.5 million homes across Canada.

In 1990, Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers became the 20th major league pitcher to win 300 games, leading his team to an 11-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

In 1991, U.S. president George Bush and Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev signed START — the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty — in Moscow.

In 1992, a Thai Airways jetliner slammed into the Himalayan foothills killing all 113 people aboard, including two Canadians.