June 1916

{{short description|Month in 1916}}

{{Events by month|1916}}

{{calendar|year=1916|month=June}}

File:علم الثورة العربية الكبرى في متحف صرح الشهيد.jpg in the Martyrs' Memorial, Amman, Jordan.]]

File:Horatio Herbert Kitchener (cropped).jpg Herbert Kitchener perishes when the battle cruiser {{HMS|Hampshire|1903|6}} strikes a mine and sinks off Scotland.]]

The following events occurred in June 1916:

[[June 1]], 1916 (Thursday)

File:WWI Defenders Fort Vaux 1916.jpg during the Battle of Verdun.]]

  • Battle of Jutland – The British Royal Navy Grand Fleet overcame massive losses in the opening of the battle to rout the Imperial German Navy High Seas Fleet in the North Sea during the night, forcing them to retreat back to home port. Although the British lost more ships, the Germans lost key ships that compromised their naval advantage. The result was tactically inconclusive but allowed the Royal Navy to retain dominance of the North Sea.{{cite book|title=The Hutchinson Factfinder|publisher=Helicon|year=1999|isbn=1-85986-000-1|page=483}} British casualties were 6,094 and German casualties were 2,551.{{cite book |last=Nasmith |first=Col. George|others=Introduction by Gen. Sir Arthur W. Currie |title=Canada's Sons and Great Britain during the World War|publisher=Thomas Allen |location=Toronto|year=1919 |page=261}}
  • German cruiser SMS Wiesbaden, sunk by a British barrage with 589 men lost including German poet Johann Kinau, better known by his pseudonym Gorch Fock.{{cite book |last=Gröner|first=Erich|title=German Warships: 1815–1945|year=1990|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-87021-790-9|location=Annapolis, MD|page=112}}
  • German battleship SMS Pommern was shelled and sunk by British barrage with all 839 crew killed.{{cite book|last=Staff |first=Gary|year=2010|title=German Battleships: 1914–1918 (1)|publisher=Osprey Books|location=Oxford|isbn=978-1-84603-467-1|page=13}}
  • German cruiser SMS Frauenlob was torpedoed by HMS Southampton and sank, taking 320 men down with her.{{cite book |last=Campbell|first=John|title=Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting| year=1998| location=London| publisher=Conway Maritime Press|isbn=1-55821-759-2|page=393}}
  • The German Navy scuttled cruisers SMS Lützow, SMS Elbing and SMS Rostock as all three were too badly damaged to bring back to port, adding to the 63,300 tons sunk by the Royal Navy.{{cite book | last = Tarrant | first = V. E. | year = 2001 | orig-year = 1995 | title = Jutland: The German Perspective | publisher = Cassell Military Paperbacks | location = London | isbn = 978-0-304-35848-9 | oclc = 48131785|page=298}}{{sfn|Campbell|1998|pp=295, 317}}
  • British cruiser HMS Warrior was so badly damaged, it was scuttled.{{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert| editor2-last=Gray| editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921| year=1985| location=Annapolis| publisher=Naval Institute Press| isbn=0-85177-245-5|page=13}} The Royal Navy also lost destroyers HMS Turbulent (90 crew dead),{{sfn|Gardiner|Gray|1985|p=78}} HMS Ardent (78 crew dead),{{cite web|url = http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/jutland/hms_shark_casualty_list_1916.htm|title = Officers and Men Killed in Action or Died of Wounds, H.M.S. Ardent, Battle of Jutland 31st May -1st June 1916}} HMS Fortune (67 crew dead),{{cite book|last1=Massie|first1=Robert K.|title=Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea|date=2003|publisher=Ballantine Books|location=New York|isbn=0-345-40878-0|pages=642–44}} and HMS Sparrowhawk (6 crew dead) which added to the total 113,300 tons sunk by the German navy.{{cite book |title=The Battle of Jutland |first=Geoffrey |last=Bennett |year=1964|page=374}}{{publisher needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Battle of Verdun – A German force of 10,000 troops began their assault on Fort Vaux in northeastern France.{{cite book |title=Verdun |last=Mason |first=D. |year=2000 |publisher=Windrush Press |location=Moreton-in-Marsh |isbn=1-900624-41-9|pages=150–159}}
  • The United States Marine Corps took control of key port cities of Puerto Plata and Monti Cristi in the Dominican Republic to enforce a blockade on the country.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TqsWAAAAYAAJ | title=The Banana Wars | publisher=Macmillan Publishing Co. | author=Musicant, Ivan | year=1990 | location=New York | pages=247–252 | isbn=0025882104}}
  • The United States Senate confirmed the nomination of Louis Brandeis as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States by a vote of 47 to 22.{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=980CE7D7163BE633A25751C0A9609C946796D6CF |title=Confirm Brandeis by Vote of 47 to 22 |date=2 June 1916 |work=The New York Times |access-date=31 December 2009 |url-access=limited}}
  • Born: Rick Fletcher, American comic strip artist, best known for his work on the Dick Tracy comic strip; as Richard Fletcher, in Burlington, Iowa, United States (d. 1983){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Died:
  • Charles J. Knapp, 70, American banker, indicted in the failure of the Binghamton Trust Company in 1909 (b. 1845){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Mason Scott, 50, English rugby player, played half back for the England national rugby union team from 1887 to 1890 and for the Barbarian club (b. 1865){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • John K. Stewart, 45, American inventor, co-founder of Stewart-Warner and other companies (b. 1870){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

[[June 2]], 1916 (Friday)

File:MalcolmSmithMercercropped.jpg}}]]

File:Major Victor AS Williams No 15318 (HS85-10-11346).jpg}}]]

  • Battle of Mont Sorrel – German artillery shelled the defending Canadian Corps at Mont Sorrel east of Ypres, Belgium, inflicting heavy casualties that included the wounding of commanding officers Major-General Malcolm Mercer and Brigadier-General Victor Williams.{{cite book |title= Hell's Corner: An Illustrated History of Canada's Great War, 1914–1918 |last= Granatstein |first= Jack Lawrence |author-link= Jack Granatstein |year= 2004 |publisher= Douglas & McIntyre |location= Toronto |isbn= 1-55365-047-6 |page=95 |url= https://archive.org/details/hellscornerillus0000gran }}{{cite book |series=Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War |title=Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914–1919 |last=Nicholson |first=Gerald W. L. |author-link=G. W. L. Nicholson |year=1962 |publisher=Queen's Printer and Controller of Stationery |location=Ottawa |url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/CEF_e.pdf |access-date=25 March 2014 |oclc=557523890 |page=148 |archive-date=26 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826165151/http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/CEF_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}
  • Battle of Verdun – German forces overrun the top of Fort Vaux in northeastern France but French defenders continue to resist from the underground garrisons.Mason 2000, pp. 150-159
  • British sailor Jack Cornwell, 16, died from wounds received while serving on {{HMS|Chester|1915|6}} during Battle of Jutland. He was awarded posthumously the Victoria Cross for his actions, the third-youngest British serviceman to receive the honor.{{London Gazette |issue=29752 |supp=y |page=9085 |date=15 September 1916 }}
  • Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition – News of the sinking of the polar ship {{ship||Endurance|1912 ship|2}} in November 1915 and the attempts by expedition leader Ernest Shackleton to reach civilization and arrange rescue reached the United Kingdom, where it briefly dominated headlines normally reserved for World War I.{{cite book|author-link= Roland Huntford|last= Huntford|first= Roland|title= Shackleton|publisher= Hodder & Stoughton|location= London|year= 1985 |isbn= 0-340-25007-0|pages=605–06}}
  • Born:
  • Jozef Cleber, Dutch conductor and composer, known for compositions Heel de wereld and the Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya; in Maastricht, Netherlands (d. 1999){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • George Houser, American activist, co-founder of the Congress of Racial Equality and co-leader of the Journey of Reconciliation action to promote desegregation laws in Southern United States; in Cleveland, United States (d. 2015){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

[[June 3]], 1916 (Saturday)

  • Battle of Mont Sorrel – The Canadian Corps at Mont Sorrel scrambled to organize a counterattack after losing Major-General Malcolm Mercer, who died from wounds he received during the shelling the previous day, and Brigadier-General Victor Williams, who was wounded and taken prisoner. Organization delays forced the assault to occur in broad daylight, earning more heavy casualties with no lost territory recaptured.{{sfn|Nicholson|1962|pp=150-151}}
  • British passenger ship SS Golconda struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with a loss of 19 lives.{{cite web |url=http://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/2563.html |title=Golconda |website=Uboat.net |access-date=18 November 2012}}
  • The U.S. government enacted the National Defense Act, an update to the Militia Act. The legislation expanded the U.S. Army into including an air division,{{cite magazine |magazine=Aviation Week and Space Technology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GlApAQAAIAAJ&dq=langley+army+aeronautics+division+national+defense+act+1916&pg=PA767 |title=Air Division |volume=3 |date=January 1, 1918 |page=767 |via=Google Books}} expanded the reorganized the Army's Division of Militia Affairs into the Militia Bureau{{cite book |last=Kerrick |first=Harrison Summers |author-link=Harrison S. Kerrick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AHctAAAAYAAJ&dq=militia+affairs+expanded+bureau&pg=PA174 |title=Military and Naval America |year=1916 |page=174 |publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company}} which federalized the United States National Guard,{{cite news |work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/06/23/104678405.pdf |title=Empowers Guard to Invade: Hay resolution in House Gives Wilson Right to Draft Militia |date=23 June 1916}} and created a Reserve Officers' Training Corps.{{cite news |work=Eugene Register-Guard |author=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vU9XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FvADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4363,4865564&dq=college+reserve+officer+training&hl=en |title=College Heads are Called to Meeting at War Department], Systematic Method of Training Officers for United States Army to be Discussed by Educators |date=12 October 1916 |via=Google Books}}
  • Born: Jack Manning, American actor, known for his stage performances of Othello, Man and Superman and his one-man performance of Hamlet on the TV program Monodrama Theater; as Jack Wilson Marks, in Cincinnati, United States (d. 2009){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

[[June 4]], 1916 (Sunday)

File:Broussilov.jpg}}]]

[[June 5]], 1916 (Monday)

File:Kitchener boarding HMS Iron Duke 5 June 1916 IWM HU 66128.jpg

File:HMS Hampshire (1903).jpg

[[June 6]], 1916 (Tuesday)

File:YuanShikaiPresidente1915.jpg, former Emperor of China}}]]

[[June 7]], 1916 (Wednesday)

  • Li Yuanhong became President of the Republic of China, the first of three terms he would hold for this position.{{cite book|last1=Parker|first1=Edward Harper|title=China, her history, diplomacy, and commerce, from the earliest times to the present day|date=1917|publisher=Dutton|location=NY|pages=384–385|url=https://archive.org/stream/chinaherhistoryd00park#page/384/mode/2up}}
  • Battle of Verdun – The last of the French defenders at Fort Vaux surrender to the Germans. The Germans lost 2,700 casualties in taking the fort while the French only had 20 casualties.
  • Born: George Charles, Caribbean politician, Chief Minister of Saint Lucia from 1960 to 1964 (d. 2004){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Died: Émile Faguet, 68, French literary critic, noted writings appears in Journal des débats (b. 1847){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

[[June 8]], 1916 (Thursday)

[[June 9]], 1916 (Friday)

  • Battle of Mont SorrelMajor-General Arthur Currie reorganized the Canadian Corps at Mont Sorrel for a renewed counterattack against the Germans supported by a British division. Artillery began shelling German positions over the 72-hour period to soften enemy defenses.{{sfn|Nicholson|1962|p=153}}
  • Sinai and Palestine campaign — British army engineers drained cisterns and pools totaling five million gallons of water at Wadi Mukhsheib in the Sinai Peninsula and sealed them to prevent refilling during the next rainy season. Without water supplies in the interior, the Ottoman Empire was now only able to travel along the northern coast.{{cite book |title=Military Operations Egypt & Palestine from the Outbreak of War with Germany to June 1917 |last1=Falls |first1=Cyril |series=Official History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence |first2=G. |last2=MacMunn |year=1930 |volume=I |publisher=HM Stationery Office |location=London |oclc=610273484|page=178}}
  • American naval aviation pioneer Richard C. Saufley was killed on Santa Rosa Island on a flight out of the Naval Aeronautic Station, Pensacola, Florida when his Curtiss hydroplane went down at the 8-hour-51-minute mark of his flight.{{cite book|last=Baker|first=David|title=Flight and Flying: A Chronology|year=1994|isbn=978-0-8160-1854-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/flightflyingchro0000bake/page/84 84]|url=https://archive.org/details/flightflyingchro0000bake/page/84}}
  • The German association football club Erkenschwick was established in Oer-Erkenschwick, Germany.{{cite web|title=Historie - Unsere Geschichte|url=http://www.spvgg-erkenschwick.de/index.php/historie/unsere-geschichte|website=SPVGG Erkenschwic|access-date=16 November 2016|language=de|archive-date=3 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103183942/http://spvgg-erkenschwick.de/index.php/historie/unsere-geschichte|url-status=dead}}
  • Born:
  • Robert McNamara, American civil servant, 8th United States Secretary of Defense, 5th President of the World Bank Group; in San Francisco, United States (d. 2009){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Walter McCrone, American chemist, best known for his analysis of paranormal historical artifacts including the Shroud of Turin and the Vinland map; in Wilmington, Delaware, United States (d. 2002){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Jurij Brězan, German Sorbian writer, published noted works in East Germany, recipient of the Order of Karl Marx; in Räckelwitz, German Empire (present-day Germany) (d. 2006){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Jean Dallaire, Canadian painter, best known for his mural work at Queen Elizabeth Hotel; as Jean-Philippe Dallaire, in Hull, Quebec, Canada (d. 1965){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

[[June 10]], 1916 (Saturday)

File:Guerra Altipiani Dopo Assalto.jpg.]]

  • Battle of AsiagoAustria-Hungary failed to capitalize on its breakthrough in the Italian Front as the Russian offence in Galicia forced the empire to redirect military resources to the north. The battle has been catastrophic with heavy casualties on both sides, with Italy enduring 12,000 dead, 80,000 wounded and 50,000 taken prisoner, while Austria-Hungary had 15,000 dead, 75,000 wounded and 15,000 taken prisoner. The political fallout of the battle ended the administration of Antonio Salandra as Prime Minister of Italy, with Paolo Boselli succeeding him.{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Mark |year=2008 |title=The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front, 1915-1919 |location=London |publisher=Faber and Faber |page=163}}
  • Arab RevoltHussein bin Ali declared the sovereignty of a new Arab state within the Ottoman Empire spanning from Aleppo to Aden as the Kingdom of Hejaz and ordered his forces to attack the Ottoman garrison in Mecca.{{sfn|Murphy|2008|pp=33-34}}
  • Arab forces under command of Emir Abdullah of Transjordan laid siege on the Ottoman-controlled city of Ta'if.{{cite book |editor-first1=Spencer C. |editor-last1=Tucker |editor-first2=Priscilla Mary |editor-last2=Roberts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2YqjfHLyyj8C&q=%22in+september+the+3%2C000-man+turkish%22 |chapter=Arab Revolt (1916–1918) |title=The Encyclopedia of World War I |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2005 |isbn=1-85109-420-2 |page=117}}{{sfn|Murphy|2008|p=34}}
  • Arab Revolt – A force of 3,500 Arabs with support from British and French ships and aircraft, including the British sea carrier HMS Ben-my-Chree, raided the Red Sea port of Jidda.Murphy 2008, p.35
  • Battle for Lake Tanganyika – German steamship Graf von Goetzen, the last of three German ships built to control Lake Tanganyika in Central Africa, was targeted by Belgian aircraft while anchored in the lake port of Kigoma in what is now Tanzania.{{cite web |url=http://www.tillo.be/Tanganyika_2013.pdf |title=Aimé Behaeghe First Pilot in Central Africa in Cross&Cocade 2008 Vol. 39, Nr. 1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212915/http://www.tillo.be/Tanganyika_2013.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-03 }}The Times 16. June 1916, P. 8{{incomplete citation|date=February 2025}}
  • Charles Evans Hughes accepted the nomination as presidential candidate with Charles W. Fairbanks as running mate at the Republican National Convention in Chicago.{{cite news|title=Hughes Accepts Republican Nomination for President; Declares for Upholding American Rights on Land and Sea; Roosevelt, Named by Moose, Declines; He's 'Out of Politics'|url=https://partners.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/160611convention-gop-ra.html|access-date=9 October 2015|newspaper=The New York Times|date=11 June 1912}}
  • Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition – British polar expedition leader Ernest Shackleton chartered a tough trawler vessel from the government of Uruguay in a second attempt to voyage to Elephant Island and rescue the main body of the stranded expedition, but packed ice again prevented the vessel from nearing the island.{{cite book|author-link= Ernest Shackleton|last= Shackleton|first= Ernest|title= South: The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition, 1914-1917 |publisher= Century Publishing|location= London|year= 1983|isbn= 0-7126-0111-2|pages=214–18}}
  • Born:
  • William Rosenberg, American business executive, founder of Dunkin' Donuts; in Boston, United States (d. 2002){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri, Pakistani politician, prominent leader in the Pakistan Movement; in Rokhri, British India (present-day Pakistan) (d. 2001){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

[[June 11]], 1916 (Sunday)

[[June 12]], 1916 (Monday)

  • Battle of Mont Sorrel – Canadian shelling of German positions reached its climax with an intense non-stop 10-hour barrage while Canadian and British troops prepared for assault on Mont Sorrel.{{sfn|Nicholson|1962|p=153}}
  • Courts-martial began for 16 British conscientious objectors conscripted to serve in the British Army as non-combatants after disobeying orders from commanding officers.{{cite web |first=Norman |last=Gaudie |url=http://www.ppu.org.uk/coproject/cotestimony1.html |title=The courage that brings peace |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408065020/http://www.ppu.org.uk/coproject/cotestimony1.html |archive-date=2014-04-08 |date=1922 |access-date=19 October 2014 |website=Conscientious Objection Project |publisher=Pledge Peace Union|url-status=dead}}
  • The No. 1 Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps began military operations in Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt, after being established at Point Cook, Victoria, Australia in January.{{cite book|last=Cutlack | first=F.M.| orig-year=1923|year=1941| title=The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 (11th edition): Volume VIII – The Australian Flying Corps in the Western and Eastern Theatres of War, 1914–1918 | location=Sydney| publisher=Angus & Robertson|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1069925/|oclc=220900299|pages=35–36}}
  • The popular Ziegfeld Follies Of 1916 Broadway revue opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City and ran for 112 performances.
  • The Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome opened on the Santa Monica Pier in California as part of a new amusement park attraction.{{cite web |url=http://santamonicapier.org/wp-content/themes/sm-pier/images/history/layer-07.png |title=santamonicapier.org |access-date=2017-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420145020/http://santamonicapier.org/wp-content/themes/sm-pier/images/history/layer-07.png |archive-date=2013-04-20 |url-status=dead }} It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.{{cite journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Looff's Hippodrome / Santa Monica Amusement Pier Carousel Building|url={{NHLS url|id=87000766}} |format=pdf|date=November 2, 1984 |author=James H. Charleton |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|id=87000766|title=Accompanying 1 photo, from 1985.|photos=y}} {{small|(397 KB)}}
  • Born:
  • Irwin Allen, American director and producer, best known for his disaster films including The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno; as Irwin O. Cohen, in New York City, United States (d. 1991){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Raúl Héctor Castro, Mexican American politician, 14th Governor of Arizona and first Mexican-born American to be governor of the state; in Cananea, Mexico (d. 2015){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Died: Silvanus P. Thompson, 64, English physicist and mathematician, member of the Royal Society and author of Calculus Made Easy (b. 1851){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

[[June 13]], 1916 (Tuesday)

  • Battle of Mont Sorrel – Canadian and British troops surprised German defenses following a morning barrage, forcing them to fall back to their original lines within an hour. Around 200 German soldiers were taken prisoner.{{sfn|Nicholson|1962|p=153}}{{sfn|Granatstein|2004|p=84}}
  • The village of Spirit River, Alberta was established.{{cite web | url=http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/MunicipalProfiles/basicReport/TOWN.PDF | publisher=Alberta Municipal Affairs | title=Location and History Profile: Town of Spirit River | page=576 | date=October 7, 2016 | access-date=October 16, 2016}}

[[June 14]], 1916 (Wednesday)

[[June 15]], 1916 (Thursday)

  • Raid on San Ygnacio – U.S. soldiers with the 14th Cavalry Regiment clashed with Mexican raiders at the border town of San Ygnacio, Texas, resulting in at least a dozen deaths.{{Cite web|url=https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/unit-history/conflict/punitive-expedition-mexico-1916|title=Punitive Expedition into Mexico, 1916 :: New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center|website=museum.dmna.ny.gov|accessdate=14 August 2023}}{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PBZ/is_4_88/ai_n28048849/pg_7/ |work=Military Review |title=A troubled past: the army and security on the Mexican border, 1915-1917 |year=2008 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/mexican-graves-killed-14-cavalry-103369203|title=Mexican Graves Killed by 14 Cavalry Border War Postcard (04/25/2010)|work=Worthpoint|access-date=27 November 2014}}
  • U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill incorporating the Boy Scouts of America.{{cite web |url=http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/RTN/History/Wilson.aspx |title=Woodrow Wilson |publisher=Scouting.org |date=1916-06-15 |access-date=2015-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222124524/http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/RTN/History/Wilson.aspx |archive-date=2015-12-22 |url-status=dead }}
  • Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition – After close to two months on Elephant Island, the main body of the stranded British polar expedition party following the sinking of the polar ship Endurance in November were forced to amputate the toes of one of the expedition members due to gangrene. Stocks of seal and penguin meat were beginning to run low and tensions were high among the party, recalled main body expedition leader Frank Wild.Huntford 1985, pp. 532-33
  • The New Zealand Flying School conducted a test flight of the B & W SeaplaneWilliam E. Boeing's first aircraft — setting a New Zealand altitude record of 6,500 feet (1,981 metres).{{cite web |url=http://www.boeing.com/history/products/b-and-w-seaplane.page |title=B & W Seaplane |access-date=2016-06-13 |publisher=Boeing}}
  • Born:
  • Olga Erteszek, Polish-American fashion designer, known for her nightgown and undergarment designs (d. 1989){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Herbert A. Simon, American economist, recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his theories on bounded rationality and satisficing; in Milwaukee, United States (d. 2001){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Tetsuzō Iwamoto, Japanese fighter pilot, considered the top flying ace of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II; in Karafuto Prefecture, Empire of Japan (present-day Sakhalin, Russia) (d. 1955){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Joe Oros, Romanian-American auto designer, credited for the iconic design of the Ford Mustang; as Joseph E. Oros Jr. (d. 2012){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

[[June 16]], 1916 (Friday)

[[June 17]], 1916 (Saturday)

  • Jean Navarre, the first French ace of World War I, was shot down and wounded, ending his combat career with 12 confirmed kills.{{cite book |title= Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 |pages= 196–197}}
  • French-American pilot Victor Chapman of the Lafayette Escadrille was attacked and shot down by German fighter pilot Walter Höhndorf during the Battle of Verdun.van Wyngarden, G. Early German Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2006. p. 57 {{ISBN|1-84176-997-5}}

[[June 18]], 1916 (Sunday)

File:Max_Immelmann.jpg , German war ace}}]]

[[June 19]], 1916 (Monday)

[[June 20]], 1916 (Tuesday)

[[June 21]], 1916 (Wednesday)

[[June 22]], 1916 (Thursday)

  • Battle of Verdun – The Germans gassed French artillery positions around Verdun, France, causing 1,600 casualties.{{cite book |title=The Road to Verdun: France, Nationalism and the First World War |last=Ousby |first=I. |author-link=Ian Ousby |year=2002 |publisher=Jonathan Cape |location=London |isbn=0-22405-990-4|page=229}}
  • The Passing Show of 1916, a musical revue by Sigmund Romberg and Otto Motzan with book and lyrics by Harold R. Atteridge, premiered at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and ran for 140 performances. The revue included the hit "Pretty Baby" (with lyrics by Gus Kahn and music by Egbert Van Alstyne) and "The Making of a Girl", the first song by George Gershwin ever performed in public.{{cite book|last=Hischak|first=Thomas S.|title=Enter the Playmakers: Directors and Choreographers on the New York Stage |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCTUkTpL8V8C&pg=PA59|access-date=2014-05-30 |date=2006-01-01|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-5747-6}}

[[June 23]], 1916 (Friday)

[[June 24]], 1916 (Saturday)

File:Victor Chapman, 1916.jpg, American airman}}]]

  • Battle of Verdun – The joint British-French artillery barrage the German defense positions.{{sfn|Ousby|2002|pp=229–231}}
  • The British military court found 16 British conscientious objectors guilty for insubordination and sentenced to be shot, but the sentence was immediately commuted to ten years in penal servitude. They were transferred back to England to serve their terms in military prison located at Richmond Castle, where they became known as the Richmond Sixteen. All were eventually released in 1919.
  • While flying en route to see a wounded comrade, French-American flight ace Victor Chapman was attacked and shot down over Douaumont by German fighter pilot Kurt Wintgens, becoming the first American airman to die in World War I.{{cite book|last=McConnel|first=James Rogers| title=Flying for France : with the American escadrille at Verdun| year=1917| publisher=Doubleday, Page & company| url=https://archive.org/stream/flyingforfrancewmcco#page/42/mode/2up|page=42}}{{cite book|last=McKenzie|first=Fred Arthur|title=Americans at the front|year=1917|publisher=George H. Doran Company|location=New York|url=https://archive.org/stream/americansatfront00mcke#page/16/mode/2up|page=17}}
  • Australian soldier William Jackson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in a raid near Armentières, France. Jackson had captured one German prisoner and rescued several wounded comrades in no man's land before he was hit by a shell burst that blew his right arm off. Despite the loss of a limb, Jackson refused to return to the rear after receiving a tourniquet and returned repeatedly to no man's land to search for more wounded comrades until all members of his unit were accounted for. Jackson did not learn of his commendation until he returned to Australia on September 8, five days before his 19th birthday.{{London Gazette| issue=29740|pages=8870–8871 |supp=y | date=9 September 1916}}
  • A publicity launch for the Wolf Cub section of Scouting was introduced at the Boy Scouts Association's Imperial Headquarters in Buckingham Palace Road, Westminster, England.{{cite web |url=http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/diamond.pdf |title=The Diamond Jubilee Book of Scouting (pp. 26-27) |date=1966 |website=www.thedump.scoutscan.com |publisher=Pearson, London |access-date=24 October 2013}}
  • The Ninth Avenue, 50th Street, 55th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway elevated train stations opened in New York City.{{cite news|title=Realty Boom Is Predicted for Borough Park Section|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/55221837/?terms=subway|access-date=16 September 2015|newspaper=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=June 24, 1916}}{{cite news|title=Parade, Pageant Mark Celebration: Borough Park Civic Bodies and School Children Join in Festivities: West End Line Opened: First Train From Manhattan Over New "L" Extension of Dual System to Sixty-Second Street|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/55221837/?terms=subway|access-date=16 September 2015|newspaper=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=June 24, 1916}}
  • Born:
  • William B. Saxbe, American politician, 70th United States Attorney General, U.S. Senator from Ohio from 1969 to 1974; in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, United States (d. 2010){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • John Ciardi, American poet, author of How Does a Poem Mean?; in Boston, United States (d. 1986){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Roohangiz Saminejad, Iranian actress, known for her film roles in Lor Girl and Shirin and Farhad; in Bam, Iran (d. 1997){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

[[June 25]], 1916 (Sunday)

  • Battle of Verdun – The German push towards the Verdun citadel was halted.{{sfn|Mason|2000|pp=183–167}} German casualties were now at {{circa|200,000 men}} while French casualties reached {{circa|185,000}}.{{cite book |last=Samuels |first=M. |title=Command or Control? Command, Training and Tactics in the British and German Armies 1888–1918 |publisher=Frank Cass |location=London |year=1995 |isbn=0-7146-4214-2|page=126}}
  • The Imperial German Navy captured British ferry SS Brussels while it was bound for England and took Captain Charles Fryatt and his crew prisoner, where they were escorted to Bruges.[http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/irs/irshome/features/readings/readings.htm#EX06 Great Eastern Railway Magazine October 1918, p. 189-90]
  • The Bangkok railway station officially opened for service after six years of construction.{{cite news|last=Perkins|first=Ed|title=10 iconic train excursions|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2013/08/01/10-iconic-train-excursions/2584639/|work=USA Today|access-date=16 August 2013|date=2013-08-01}}
  • Born: Thomas Baker, American soldier, recipient of the Medal of Honor for action during the Battle of Saipan; in Troy, New York, United States (killed in action, 1944){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Died: Thomas Eakins, 71, American painter, leader in American realism with noted artworks such as Max Schmitt in a Single Scull and William Rush and His Model (b. 1844){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

[[June 26]], 1916 (Monday)

[[June 27]], 1916 (Tuesday)

[[June 28]], 1916 (Wednesday)

[[June 29]], 1916 (Thursday)

[[June 30]], 1916 (Friday)

  • Battle of the Boar's Head – The British launched a diversionary against the Germans at the French village Richebourg-l'Avoué prior to the Somme offensive.{{cite book |title=A Short History of the 39th (Deptford) Divisional Artillery 1915–1918 |last=Wiebkin |first=H. W. |year=1923 |publisher=E. G. Berryman |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/39thartillery00weibuoft |access-date=17 September 2013 |oclc=697621967|page=14}}
  • German submarine SM U-10 struck a mine and sank in the Gulf of Finland with all 29 crew lost.{{cite book|last1=Gröner|first1=Erich|last2=Jung|first2=Dieter|last3=Maass|first3=Martin|translator-last1=Thomas|translator-first1=Keith|translator-last2=Magowan|translator-first2=Rachel|year=1991|title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels|volume=2|series=German Warships 1815–1945|location=London|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|isbn=0-85177-593-4|pages=4–6}}
  • The Royal Flying Corps established the No. 66 Squadron.{{cite web| title=No 66 Squadron| url=http://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn066-70.htm|website=RAF Web| publisher=Royal Air Force| access-date=22 November 2016}}
  • The first flight of an aircraft with all-metal stressed skin construction, the Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.II, took place.{{cite book|last=Haddow|first=G.W.|author2=Peter M. Grosz|title=The German Giants - The German R-Planes 1914–1918|publisher=Putnam|location=London|year=1988|edition=3rd|isbn=0-85177-812-7}}
  • Since the start of 1916, 46 German airship sorties crossed the coast of England, and German airships have attacked London twice. British antiaircraft guns only shot down one German airship.Whitehouse, Arch 1966, p. 130
  • Amateur golfer Chick Evans won his first and only title at the U.S. Open in Minneapolis, two strokes ahead of runner-up Jock Hutchison.{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1916/07/01/page/10/ |title=Evans wins National Open golf title |date=July 1, 1916 |page=10}}
  • The city of Adelaide, Australia received {{convert|217.9|mm|in|2}} of rain, its highest monthly rainfall since records began in 1839.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=139&p_display_type=dataFile&p_stn_num=023000|title=Adelaide West Terrace (023000) monthly rainfall|accessdate=14 August 2023}}
  • Born: Al Hake, Australian air force officer, member of the "Great Escape" from German POW camp Stalag Luft III and executed by the Gestapo, in Sydney (d. 1944){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Died:
  • John Daly, 70, Irish revolutionary leader, leading member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and uncle to Kathleen Clarke, wife of Tom Clarke; executed for taking part in the Easter Rising (b. 1845){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
  • Gaston Maspero, 70, French archaeologist, developed the Sea Peoples theory for the invasions of ancient Egypt experienced prior to the Late Bronze Age collapse (b. 1846){{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

References

{{reflist|2}}

{{Events by month links}}

1916

*1916-06