James Park Woods (1886–1963) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the

highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that could be awarded to
members of the Australian armed forces at the time. Woods enlisted in the
Australian Imperial Force in September 1916, and joined the 48th Battalion in
France in September 1917. He participated in the First Battle of Passchendaele the
following month. In 1918, Woods was hospitalised twice, finally returning to his
unit in mid-August. On 18 September, the 48th Battalion was involved in the attack
on the Hindenburg Outpost Line. During this battle Woods led a four-man patrol in
an attack on a strong German post, inflicting severe casualties and driving more
than thirty Germans from the position. His actions during this assault and
subsequent defence against German counter-attacks resulted in him being awarded the
Victoria Cross. His medals are now displayed in the Hall of Valour at the
Australian War Memorial. (Full article...)

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Did you know...
Temple of Bziza
Temple of Bziza
... that the Roman temple of Bziza (pictured), dedicated to the Semitic god Azizos,
was converted to a church by the Byzantines?
... that Better Together's "The woman who made up her mind" advert opposing
Scottish independence so upset politician Sandra Grieve that she changed her mind
and began supporting independence?
... that Ralph Henry Gabriel founded the American Studies Department at Yale
University but later resigned in protest during the Cold War?
... that the Carroll Street Bridge is one of four remaining retractable bridges in
the United States, and one of two in New York City?
... that obstetrician James Scott showed that certain diseases in newborns were
caused by their mothers' antibodies crossing the placenta?
... that the territory of Central Australia existed only from 1927 to 1931?
... that after Mary Ma orchestrated Lenovo's acquisition of IBM's PC division, she
was named by Forbes as the 57th most powerful woman in the world?
... that the cut flesh of the bitter tooth mushroom smells of watermelon?
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In the news
Ricky Rubio in 2012
Ricky Rubio
The FIBA Basketball World Cup concludes, with Spain defeating Argentina in the
final (tournament MVP Ricky Rubio pictured).
In Gaelic football, the All-Ireland Championship concludes with Dublin defeating
Kerry in the final.
Drone attacks on two major oil facilities force Saudi Arabia to cut more than half
of its oil production.
Astronomers announce the detection of water in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b,
the first such discovery for an exoplanet in the habitable zone around a star.
Ongoing: BrexitHong Kong protestsPapua protests
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MoneyFrederic PryorJames Robertson
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On this day
September 18

Marble bust of Nerva

Marble bust of Nerva
AD 96 – Following the assassination of Roman emperor Domitian, the Roman Senate
appointed Nerva (bust pictured), the first of the "Five Good Emperors", to succeed
him.
1809 – The second theatre of the Royal Opera House in London opened after a fire
destroyed the original theatre one year earlier.
1851 – The New York Times, the largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States,
was founded.
1948 – The Australian cricket team's Invincibles tour of England concluded; they
had played thirty-four matches, including five Tests, without defeat.
2014 – Scotland voted against independence from the United Kingdom.
Andronikos Komnenos (b. 1091) · Zhang Xianzhong (b. 1606) · Edwin McMillan (b.
1907)

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Today's featured picture
Aletta Jacobs
Aletta Jacobs (1854–1929) was a Dutch physician and women's suffrage activist.
Jacobs strove throughout her life to change laws that limited women's access to
equality, starting in 1883 with an unsuccessful court challenge and eventually
achieving success 100 years ago today, on 18 September 1919, with the signing of a
suffrage bill into law. She is also noted for founding the world's first birth
control clinic, in 1882. As a child Jacobs yearned to become a doctor like her
father and, despite existing barriers, she fought to gain entry to higher education
and became the first woman officially to attend a Dutch university, and one of the
first female physicians in the Netherlands. Providing medical services to women and
children, she grew concerned over the health of working women, and although she
continued to practice medicine until 1903, she increasingly turned her attention to
activism with a view to improving women's lives. In addition to her suffrage work
she led campaigns aimed at deregulating prostitution, improving women's working
conditions, and promoting peace.

Photograph credit: Max Büttinghausen; restored by Adam Cuerden