Today in History: 29 May 1914

Canada: The RMS Empress of Ireland Sinks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

On this day in 1914, 1024 people died when the ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland sunk in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. It had collided in the early hours of the morning with the Norwegian collier ‘Storstad.’

Launched in 1906, the Empress of Ireland often crossed between Quebec in Canada and Liverpool in England. It had not long departed on another crossing when the accident occurred. There was a heavy fog which resulted in both ships not being able to see the other.

For more visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Empress_of_Ireland_(1906)

Today in History: 10 May 1940

World War II: The United Kingdom Invades Iceland

On this day in 1940, Operation Fork (The Invasion of Iceland) began early in the morning in the capital Reykjavik. The objective was to prevent German occupation and the promise was made to withdraw at the conclusion of the war. The British troops were relieved by American troops a year later, before the US had officially entered the war.

For more, visit:
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Iceland
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Iceland