June 1918

The following events occurred in June 1918:

Saturday, June 1, 1918

* The Spanish flu epidemic became a pandemic, killing over 30 million people over the next six months.
* Battle of Belleau Wood – The United States Army, U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division (United States), 2nd Infantry Division deployed troops, including the 5th Marine Regiment, 5th and 6th Marine Regiments, to hold Belleau, Aisne, Belleau Wood near the Marne (river), Marne River in France after the towns of Château-Thierry and Vaux fell to the Germans.
* Australian flying ace Roderic Dallas was killed while flying a solo mission over Liévin, France. Dallas was the highest-ranking Australian ace of the World War I, with his victories ranging from an official count of 39 to other sources claiming up to 51 victories.
* The first of two giant German Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI, Zeppelin-Staaken bombers lost to enemy action in World War I was shot down by anti-aircraft guns over the French lines.
* The Royal Air Force established air squadrons No. 159 Squadron RAF, No. 159 No. 162 Squadron RAF, No. 162, and No. 163 Squadron RAF, No. 163.
* The Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service, Royal Air Force Temporary Nursing Service was established, receiving the prefix Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, Princess Mary in 1923 when the British princess (daughter of George V, King George) became the service's patronage, patron.
* ''Tails Up!'', a musical revue starring Jack Buchanan, opened at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Comedy Theatre in London where it ran for 467 performances.
* The bimonthly newspaper ''El Caribe'' published its first edition in Roatán, Honduras.
* U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill to direct the United States Mint to create the Illinois Centennial half dollar, a commemorative fifty-cent piece depicting Abraham Lincoln.

Sunday, June 2, 1918

* Battle of Belleau Wood – The 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, first battalion of the 5th U.S. Marines forced a march over to plug a gap covering in the Allies of World War I, Allied line that the Germans opened up the day before.
* German submarine shelled, torpedoed or scuttled six American ships off the coast of New Jersey in what was referred to as "Black Sunday", including passenger ship which resulted in 13 deaths.
* The American Expeditionary Forces set up military hospitals in Bazoilles-sur-Meuse, France, when American Base Hospital No. 116, Hospital No. 116 designed to treat over 2,000 wounded American soldiers.
* Marion Davies produced and starred in her second feature film ''Cecilia of the Pink Roses'', released through Selznick Pictures, Select Pictures.
* Born: Kathryn Tucker Windham, American columnist, known for narrative columns for the ''Selma Times-Journal'', in Selma, Alabama (d. 2011)

Monday, June 3, 1918

* Third Battle of the Aisne – Allies of World War I, Allied counterattacks halted the German advance at the Marne (river), Marne River. Allies of World War I, Allied casualties were massive at 127,000, including 98,000 French casualties and 29,000 British casualties. Germany suffered slightly more with 130,000 casualties.
* Battle of Belleau Wood – The 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, first battalion of the 5th U.S. Marines held ground and inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking Germans, forcing them back to the village of Vaux. Captain (United States O-3), Captain Lloyd W. Williams was said to have famously responded to a general order to fall back with: "Retreat? Hell, we just got here!" He was killed in the battle on June 12 while waiting for the surviving Marines under his command to be evacuated by medics. For his bravery and sacrifice, Williams was posthumously awarded three Silver Stars and promoted to Major (rank), major.
* The British General Post Office increased postage rates to a penny (British decimal coin), penny halfpenny (British decimal coin), halfpenny for ordinary letters, bringing an end to the Uniform Penny Post which had existed since 1840. The rate for postcards doubled from a halfpenny to a penny.
* The Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom), Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was established as the official medal of the Royal Air Force. By the end of World War I, some 1,100 DFCs were awarded.
* Bjørnøen was established as a mining company operating on Bear Island (Norway), Bear Island, Norway. It became nationalized in 1932 under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (Norway), Ministry of Trade and Industry of Norway.
* The sports club Holter IF, Holter was established in Nannestad, Norway with sections for association football, football and handball.
* Born: Patrick Cargill, British actor, best known for the lead title role in British television sitcom ''Father, Dear Father'', in Bexhill-on-Sea, England (d. 1996); Lili St. Cyr, American dancer, noted promoter of American burlesque, in Minneapolis (d. 1999)
* Died: Ramón Maximiliano Valdés, Panamanian state leader, 7th List of heads of state of Panama, President of Panama (b. 1867)

Tuesday, June 4, 1918

* The Ottoman Empire signed a Treaty of Batum, treaty with First Republic of Armenia, Armenia, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Azerbaijan, and Democratic Republic of Georgia, Georgia, ending most of the fighting in the Caucasus region.
* Battle of Belleau Wood – United States Army, U.S. Army Major general (United States), Major General Omar Bundy took command of the 2nd Infantry Division (United States), 2nd Infantry Division as the United States Marine Corps, U.S. Marines continued to repel German attacks over the next 48 hours.
* The French Army established the 503e Régiment de chars de combat, 503rd Combat Tank Regiment.
* The inaugural flight of the Zeppelin-Lindau D.I, Dornier-Zeppelin took place, the first stressed skin, all-metal stressed-skin fighter to be tested.
* Born: Johnny Klein, American drummer, lead percussionist on ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' and second cousin to Lawrence Welk, in Strasburg, North Dakota (d. 1997)
* Died: Charles W. Fairbanks, American state leader, 26th Vice President of the United States (b. 1852); Hāmiora Mangakāhia, Māori people, Māori leader, first Premier of Te Kotahitanga in New Zealand (b. 1838)

Wednesday, June 5, 1918

* British armed boarding steamer SS Snaefell (1910), HMS ''Snaefell'' was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by German submarine , with all crew surviving.
* Douglas Campbell (aviator), Douglas Campbell, the first American to become an ace while flying for an American-trained unit, scored his sixth and final victory. He was badly wounded during the flight and grounded from future combat missions.
* The ''Afrikaner Broederbond'', a confidential cultural Afrikaner organisation, was founded in Johannesburg.

Thursday, June 6, 1918

* Third Battle of the Aisne – German forces were within of Paris, forcing many civilians to flee and the French government to draw up plans to evacuate to Bordeaux. Casualties were high on both sides with 127,000 for the Allies of World War I, Allies and 130,000 for Germany.
* Battle of Goychay – Grigory Korganov, one of the 26 Baku Commissars, Soviet commissars for Baku, issued an order for the Red Army to attack Ganja, Azerbaijan. This forced the Azerbaijani government to call on the Ottoman Empire for aide against the Soviet threat.
* Battle of Belleau Wood – The 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, first battalion of the 5th U.S. Marines with French support launched an attack and captured the German defensive position Hill 142, at a cost of nine officers and 325 men. During German counterattacks, gunnery sergeant, Gunnery Sergeant Ernest A. Janson held off a dozen German soldiers and became the first Marine to receive a Medal of Honor in World War I. The day was also marked in United States Marine Corps, U.S. Marines historical lore as the day gunnery sergeant, Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Daly was said to have shouted at his men to advance with the words: "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?"
* Dutch hospital ship ''HS Koningin Regentes, Koningin Regentes'' was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by German submarine , killing seven crew.
* The Independent Air Force was established as a strategic bombing force separate from the Royal Air Force during World War I.
* The football club Sandvikens IF, Sandvikens was established in Sandviken, Sweden.
* Born: Kenneth Connor, English comedian, known for his roles in the ''Carry On (franchise), Carry On'' film series, in Islington, London, England (d. 1993); Edwin G. Krebs, American biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research into the phosphorylation, in Lansing, Iowa (d. 2009)

Friday, June 7, 1918

* Battle of Belleau Wood – The third battalions of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 5th and 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 6th U.S. Marines launched an assault on Belleau, Aisne, Belleau Wood where they gained a foothold in the forest, despite losing 31 officers and 1,056 men.
* The British colonial government in Colonial Nigeria, Nigeria arrested 70 chiefs of the Egba people as part of a crackdown on a Adubi War, general rebellion against direct taxation, forced labor laws, and other protests against the British authority.
* Died: Victor Duleep Singh, Indian noble, last Maharaja of Lahore, Punjab Province (British India), Punjab, British Raj, British India and the Sikh Empire, grandson of Ranjit Singh (b. 1866)

Saturday, June 8, 1918

* German Caucasus expedition – A force of 3,000 German soldiers were dispatched to the port city of Poti, Georgia (country), Georgia to support the Third Army (Ottoman Empire), Ottoman Third Army in the South Caucasus region.
* Battle of Belleau Wood – American and German forces were locked into a stalemate at Belleau, Aisne, Belleau Wood.
* Action of Arsuf – British captured two key Ottoman observation positions over the Yarkon River, Auju River in central Palestine (region), Palestine, killing 217 and capturing another 300 Ottoman troops. The British had 62 men killed and 110 wounded.
* The counterrevolutionary government Committee of Members of the Constituent Assembly was established in Samara, Russia, during the city's occupation by the Czechoslovak Legion.
* The nova V603 Aquilae, the brightest observed since Kepler's Supernova of 1604, was discovered by amateur astronomer Zygmunt Laskowski and later confirmed by amateur astronomer A. Grace Cook, Grace Cook.
* The South African financial services group Sanlam was established in Cape Town.
* A Solar eclipse of June 8, 1918, solar eclipse was observed by the United States Naval Observatory in Baker City, Oregon, and crossed the United States from Washington (state), Washington to Florida.
* Born: Robert Preston (actor), Robert Preston, American actor, known for leading roles in both the stage and film versions of ''The Music Man'', as well as roles in ''How the West Was Won (film), How the West Was Won'', ''S.O.B. (film), S.O.B.'' and ''Victor/Victoria'', in Newton, Massachusetts (d. 1987); George Edward Hughes, Irish-New Zealand philosopher, known for works of logic and medieval philosophy, author of ''The Elements of Formal Logic'', in Waterford, Ireland (d. 1994); Leonard Greene, American aviation engineer, known to invent over 200 patents related to aviation technology, in New York City (d. 2006)
* Died: Ben Brush, American race horse, 1896 Kentucky Derby champion (b. 1893)

Sunday, June 9, 1918

* German spring offensive – German forces launched the fourth stage of their offensive against the Allies of World War I, Allies on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front with Operation Gneisenau, beginning with 21 German divisions attacking over a front along the Matz River in France, resulting in an advance of .
* Battle of Belleau Wood – American and French artillery barraged Belleau, Aisne, Belleau Wood but failed to dislodge German defences.
* A 1918 San Marino general election, general election was held in San Marino to elect the fifth Grand and General Council, with all politicians elected to its 60 seats being nonpartisanism, nonpartisan.
* Theda Bara starred in the silent drama ''Under the Yoke (film), Under the Yoke'', which became noteworthy in its controversy in later years for its depiction of Filipinos and the one-sided view of American occupation in the Philippines.
* The Main Northern Line opened the North Strathfield railway station in Sydney.
* Born: John Hospers, American philosopher, developer of Libertarianism in the United States, American libertarianism, presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party (United States), Libertarian Party during the 1972 United States presidential election, 1972 American presidential election, in Pella, Iowa (d. 2011)
* Died: Anna Dostoevskaya, Russian writer, second wife to Fyodor Dostoevsky, author of ''Anna Dostoyevskaya's Diary in 1867'' and ''Memoirs of Anna Dostoyevskay'' (b. 1846)

Monday, June 10, 1918

* Battle of Belleau Wood – The 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, first battalion of the 6th U.S. Marines attacked German defenses from the north end of Belleau, Aisne, Belleau Wood, but were counter barraged with mustard gas.
* German Caucasus expedition – Ottoman forces attacked Tashir, Vorontsovka, Armenia, but it led to Germany threatening to pull its military support from the region. The Ottoman Empire conceded and stopped its advance into Armenia.
* Battle of Goychay – Red Army forces gathered at Hajiqabul, Kazi-Magomed, Azerbaijan, where they looted and burned Muslim villages in the surrounding area before marching on Ganja, Azerbaijan, Ganja.
* Austro-Hungarian battleship SMS Szent István, SMS ''Szent István'' was sunk by two Italian torpedo boats off the coast of Dalmatia, killed 89 crew.
* Born: Barry Morse, English-Canadian actor, best known for the roles of Lt. Philip Gerard in the hit TV series ''The Fugitive (1963 TV series), The Fugitive'' and Professor Victor Bergman in the 1970s science fiction series ''Space: 1999'', in London (d. 2008)
* Died: Arrigo Boito, Italian poet and composer, member of the Scapigliatura movement in Italy (b. 1842)

Tuesday, June 11, 1918

* German spring offensive – A French force of four divisions and 150 tanks under command of Charles Mangin launched a surprise counterattack on the Germans at Compiègne, France, and halted the advance.
* Battle of Belleau Wood – The 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, first battalion of the 5th U.S. Marines attacked German defenses on the west side Belleau, Aisne, Belleau Wood and managed to smash through despite heavy casualties.
* Battle of Goychay – Red Army forces occupied the towns of Kurdamir, Kürdəmir, Gobustan (town), Maraza, and Shamakhi in Azerbaijan. However, their advance was halted at Bijo, Azerbaijan, Bijo.
* British soldiers were dispatched from German East Africa to assist local authorities in quelling Adubi War, unrest in Colonial Nigeria, Nigeria.
* The Committees of Poor Peasants was established by the Gossnab, People's Commissariat for Food Supplies to address food shortages among the rural peasantry caused in part by the Russian Civil War.
* Born: Ruth Aarons, American table tennis player, gold medalist at the World Table Tennis Championships in 1936 and 1937, in Stamford, Connecticut (d. 1980)

Wednesday, June 12, 1918

* German spring offensive – Heavy casualties from French counterattacks forced the Germans to call off further advances along the Matz River in France. The Allies of World War I, Allies sustained 35,000 casualties and the Germans had 30,000 casualties.
* Haiti held a 1918 Haitian constitutional referendum, referendum on its new Constitution of Haiti, constitution, with 99% of voters approving it.
* Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia was assassinated, the first of the Romanov family to be murdered by the Bolsheviks.
* Captain (armed forces), Captain Roy Phillipps of the Australian Flying Corps No. 2 Squadron RAAF, No. 2 Squadron scored his 11th victory by shooting down five German fighters – three Fokker Dr.I, Fokker triplanes, an LVG, and a Fokker fighter plane – in a single patrol over Ribécourt-la-Tour, France. German flying ace Fritz Loerzer, commanding officer of the Jagdstaffel 26, ''Jagdstaffel'' 26, was the pilot of the Fokker plane when it crashed, allowing him to be captured. Phillipps received the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom), Distinguished Flying Cross for the patrol.
* The Royal Air Force established air squadron No. 151 Squadron RAF, No. 151.
* Born: Bruce Alger, American politician, U.S. Representative of Texas from 1955 to 1965, in Dallas (d. 2015); Arthur Iberall, American physicist, developer of homeokinetics, in New York City (d. 2002)

Thursday, June 13, 1918

* The Eastern Front (RSFSR), Eastern Front formed in the Russian Civil War.
* A total of 30,000 Adubi War, rebels among the Egba people in Colonial Nigeria, Nigeria began coordinated strikes on British-held facilities.
* Royal Navy cruiser struck a naval mine, mine and was damaged in the North Sea with the loss of seven of her crew.
* Born: Ben Johnson (actor), Ben Johnson, American actor, best known for his roles in film Western (genre), Westerns for John Ford and Sam Peckinpah, recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''The Last Picture Show'', in Foraker, Oklahoma (d. 1996); Helmut Lent, German air force officer, commander of the ''Nachtjagdgeschwader (Night Flyer)'' squadrons for the ''Luftwaffe'' during World War II, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, in Pyrzany, Pyrehne, Germany (now part of Poland) (d. 1944, killed in action); Frazier Thomas, American television personality, host of the television children's show ''Garfield Goose and Friends'', in Rushville, Indiana (d. 1985)
* Died: Charles Johnston (New Zealand politician), Charles Johnston, New Zealand politician, 14th List of speakers of the New Zealand Legislative Council, Speaker of the New Zealand Legislative Council (b. 1845)

Friday, June 14, 1918

* The Imperial Commercial College of Saint Petersburg was brought under control of the Commission on Public Education of the Northern Workers, and subsequently ceased functioning as an educational institution.
* Born: Francis Burt, Australian judge and politician, 11th Chief Justice of Western Australia and 29th Governor of Western Australia, in Cottesloe, Western Australia (d. 2004)
* Died: George Morton Randall, American army officer, noted commander during the American Civil War and American Indian Wars (b. 1841)

Saturday, June 15, 1918

* Second Battle of the Piave River – The Austro-Hungarian Army under command of Svetozar Boroević launched 58 divisions against 52 divisions of the Italian Army under command of Armando Diaz, supported from by British and French units, along the Piave (river), Piave River in northern Italy. The attack was ill-timed with the river higher due to spring thaw, trapping many Austro-Hungarian troops on the wrong side and making them easy targets for Italian fire. It was estimated 20,000 soldiers drowned trying to cross the river.
* Lieutenant general, Lieutenant General Józef Haller, commander of the Polish Land Forces, Polish Army, signed an agreement to fight with the Allies of World War I, Allies resulting in the reorganization of Polish military units into what was collectively known as the Murmańczycy.
* Australian steamship ran aground at the northern end of Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. The vessel was refloated nine days later, but in that time black rats left the vessel and went ashore. The following years, the rat population exploded and wreaked havoc on the island's ecosystem, leading to the extinction of several of the island's birds and ravaging the sole crop on the island of Howea forsteriana, kentia palm.
* Edward Brittain, brother to Vera Brittain, was killed by a sniper during the Second Battle of the Piave River on the Italian front (World War I), Italian Front. His death added to the already heavy grief Vera experienced with the war deaths of Vera's fiancé Roland Leighton and close friends Victor Richardson (British Army officer), Victor Richardson and Geoffrey Thurlow earlier in World War I. All four men were featured prominently in her memoir ''Testament of Youth''.
* Born: François Tombalbaye, Chadian state leader, first List of heads of state of Chad, President of Chad, in Moyen-Chari (prefecture), Moyen-Chari, French Chad (d. 1975, assassinated)

Sunday, June 16, 1918

* Second Battle of the Piave River – Austro-Hungarian forces under command of Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf failed to capture Vicenza, with a loss of 40,000 men.
* Battle of Goychay – Red Army forces defeated Azerbaijani and Georgian militias and forced them to retreat to the city of Goychay (city), Goychay, while also threatening the towns of Agsu (city), Aghsu, Qaraməryəm, Garamaryam and Bığır, Goychay, Bygyr.
* British diplomat Henry McMahon published the Declaration to the Seven as the official British government response to a memorandum issued anonymously by seven Syrian notables in Cairo, which requested from the Allies of World War I, Allies a "guarantee of the ultimate independence of Arabia".

Monday, June 17, 1918

* Battle of Goychay – The Red Army defeated Ottoman forces west of the town of Qaraməryəm, Garamaryam with a loss of 200 casualties.
* German submarine SM U-64, SM ''U-64'' was depth charged, shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by Royal Navy patrol ship HMIS Cornwallis (L09), HMS ''Lychnis'' with the loss of 38 of her 43 crew.
* The Ministry of Healthcare (Azerbaijan), Ministry of Healthcare for the government of Azerbaijan was established.
* Ball State University was established in Muncie, Indiana, with an initial enrollment of 235 students.
* The Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party was established in Riga.
* The Great Central Railway opened Sealand railway station to serve military personnel at the training camp in Sealand, Flintshire, Wales.
* Born: Ajahn Chah, Thai religious leader, major founder of Theravada Buddhism, in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand (d. 1992); Carmen Casco de Lara Castro, Paraguayan activist, founder of the Cultural Institute of Refuge for Women, the first independent human rights organizations in Latin America, in Asunción (d. 1993)
* Died: Frank Leaman Baylies, American air force officer, member of French flight squadrons ''Escadrille 73'' and ''Escadrille 3'', recipient of the Legion of Honour, ''Médaille militaire'' and ''Croix de Guerre'' (killed in action) (b. 1895)

Tuesday, June 18, 1918

* The Imperial Russian Navy scuttled 10 warships, including battleship Russian battleship Imperatritsa Ekaterina Velikaya, ''Svobodnaya Rossiya'', at Novorossiysk, Russia, instead of handing them over to Germany under the stipulations of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
* British cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged by German submarine in the Atlantic Ocean from Bermuda. A total 22 crew were killed in the attack. United States Navy, U.S. Navy troopship SS Kronprinz Wilhelm, USS ''Von Steuben'' chased the submarine and fired on it, but damage was minor and the German vessel escaped.
* The 2nd Army (RSFSR), Second Red Army was established to defend the newly formed Eastern Front (RSFSR), Eastern Front in the Russian Civil War.
* The first of the Guagua National Colleges was established in Guagua, Philippines.
* Born: Jerome Karle, American chemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for research into crystal structures, in New York City (d. 2013); Franco Modigliani, Italian-American economist, recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for development of neoclassical synthesis, Neo-Keynesian economics, in Rome (d. 2003); Reinaldo Gorno, Argentine marathon runner, silver medalist at the 1952 Summer Olympics, in Yapeyú, Corrientes, Argentina (d. 1994)
* Died: Lizzie Halliday, Irish-American serial killer, first woman to be sentenced to be executed by electric chair for murder (sentence was commuted) (b. 1859)

Wednesday, June 19, 1918

* Second Battle of the Piave River – General Armando Diaz, Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, ordered a counterattack against the flank of the attacking Austro-Hungarian force, which inflicted heavy casualties.
* Italian flying ace Francesco Baracca was killed during a flying mission in northern Italy. He had 34 confirmed victories at the time of his death.
* Columbia Pictures, an American film studio owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, was founded by Harry Cohn, Jack Cohn and Joe Brandt.

Thursday, June 20, 1918

* German submarine struck a mine and sank in the Strait of Dover with the loss of all 30 crew.
* Eighteen United States Army Air Service cadets undergoing training by the Royal Italian Army's Corpo Aeronautico Militare, Military Aviation Corps arrived at the Italian front (World War I), Italian Front for bombing operations against Austria-Hungary under the command of Captain (armed forces), Captain Fiorello La Guardia. American cadet Clarence Young was shot down and killed during the mission, becoming the first of three American aircrew casualties suffered while flying with the Italians during World War I.
* Arthur Griffith of Sinn Féin won a by-election in East Cavan (UK Parliament constituency), East Cavan, Ireland making it the first victory of the year for the political party after three successive by-election defeats.
* Born: Sergei Scherbakov, Russian boxer, silver medalist at the 1952 Summer Olympics, in Moscow (d. 1994)

Friday, June 21, 1918

* Pressure over the major loss of Skra, Kilkis, Skra, Macedonia (region), Macedonia forced Vasil Radoslavov to resign as Prime Minister of Bulgaria, allowing moderate leader Aleksandar Malinov to succeed him. Radoslavov fled the country shortly after the end of the war.
* United States Navy, U.S. Navy cruiser SMS Geier, USS ''Schurz'' was accidentally rammed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by a United States Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard ship with the loss of a crew member.
* Born: Josephine Webb, American engineer, inventor of the switchgear, founding member of the Society of Women Engineers, in Niagara Falls, New York (d. 2017)

Saturday, June 22, 1918

* A Hammond Circus Train Wreck, collision between a circus train and passengers cars on the Michigan Central Railroad in Hammond, Indiana, caused a fire that killed 86 people and injured 127 others.
* Four suspects along with more than 100 waiters were arrested in Chicago after widespread incidents of restaurateurs being poisoned with antimony potassium tartrate, a drug better known for its street name Mickey Finn (drugs), Mickey Finn.
* Norwegian tennis player Molla Mallory, Molla Bjurstedt defeated American contender Eleanor Goss 6–4, 6–3 in a challenge round to win the title for the 1918 U.S. National Championships – Women's singles, U.S. National Championships women's singles at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. It was the last time a challenge round was used in the women's championship final.
* Born: Cicely Saunders, English nurse and physician, pioneer of hospice care, in Chipping Barnet, London, England (d. 2005); Yeoh Ghim Seng, Singaporean politician, 5th Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore (d. 1993)
* Died: John J. Keane (bishop), John J. Keane, Irish-American clergy, Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Bishop of Richmond from 1878 to 1900, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque, Archbishop of Dubuque from 1900 to 1911, first rector for the Catholic University of America (b. 1839)

Sunday, June 23, 1918

* Second Battle of the Piave River – Italian forces regained all ground lost in the Austro-Hungarian offensive and pushed the Austro-Hungarian Army back to its starting position. Allies of World War I, Allied forces suffered 87,181 casualties, but Austria-Hungary suffered more with 118,000 casualties.
* Born: James Young (comedian), James Young, Irish comedian, known for his sketch comedy work for Ulster Hall, Group Theatre in Belfast, and the longest-running one-man show according to ''Guinness World Records'', in Ballymoney, Ireland (d. 1974)

Monday, June 24, 1918

* Royal Navy submarine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by German submarine with the loss of 24 of her 26 crew.
* The first scheduled Canadian airmail flight was made between Montreal and Toronto.
* Dickinson State University was established in Dickinson, North Dakota, first as a normal school to fill a need for qualified teachers in rural western North Dakota.
* The Royal Air Force employed its new 1,650-lb (748-kg) bomb in combat for the first time when a Handley Page Type O, Handley Page bomber with the No. 216 Squadron RAF, No. 216 Squadron dropped one on Middelkerke, Belgium.
* Born: Elizabeth Eames, British archaeologist, leading expert on the medieval Anglo-Saxons, in Northampton, England (d. 2008 in archaeology, 2008)

Tuesday, June 25, 1918

* The Crimean Regional Government was established with support from Germany. The Red Army invaded and took control of the region the following year.
* The Original Dixieland Jass Band, Original Dixieland Jazz Band released their third hit "Sensation Rag", written by band trombonist Eddie Edwards (musician), Eddie Edwards.
* Born: P. H. Newby, British writer, author of ''Something to Answer For'', in Crowborough, England (d. 1997)
* Died: Jake Beckley, American baseball player, first baseman for various Major League Baseball, Major League teams including the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals (b. 1867); Sir Walter Boyd, 1st Baronet, Walter Boyd, Irish judge, member of the Privy Council of Ireland from 1885 to 1916 (b. 1833); James Lide Coker, American entrepreneur and philanthropist, founder of Sonoco and Coker University, Coker College (b. 1837)

Wednesday, June 26, 1918

* Battle of Belleau Wood – The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, third battalion of the 5th U.S. Marines finally pushed the Germans out of Belleau, Aisne, Belleau Wood after 10 days of bloody hand-to-hand fighting. In total, the Americans suffered 1,811 men killed and 7,996 men wounded. German casualties were heavy but exact figures were unknown, although 1,600 German soldiers were taken prisoner.
* Australian passenger ship struck a naval mine, mine and sank in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of New Zealand, with the loss of 26 passengers and crew.
* German submarine struck a mine and sank in the Strait of Dover with the loss of all but one of her 19 crew.
* Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Azerbaijan established its own Azerbaijani Armed Forces, armed forces, with Samad bey Mehmandarov as first Ministry of Defence (Azerbaijan), Minister of Defense.
* The Cherepovets Governorate was established by the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Soviet Russia for the city of Cherepovets, and remained active until 1927.
* American flying ace Field Eugene Kindley scored the first of his 12 victories, shooting down the Pfalz D.III, Pfalz fighter of Jagdstaffel 5, ''Jagdstaffel'' 5 commanding officer Wilhelm Lehmann over Albert, Somme, Albert, France while flying on missions with Royal Air Force's No. 65 Squadron RAF, No. 65 Squadron.
* Born: Ellen Liiger, Estonian actress, known for film roles including the film adaptation of ''Karge meri'', in Tallinn, Estonia (d. 1987); Roger Voisin, French-American classical musician, trumpeter for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and noted for recordings with composers Paul Hindemith, Leroy Anderson and Alexander Arutiunian (d. 2008); Rama Raghoba Rane, Indian army officer, noted commander during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, Indo-Pakistani War, recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, in Karnataka, India (d. 1994)
* Died: Kyrion II of Georgia, Kyrion, Georgian religious leader, first Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (assassinated) (b. 1855); Peter Rosegger, Austrian poet, known for poetry collection such as ''Zither und Hackbrett'', three-time nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature (b. 1843)

Thursday, June 27, 1918

* Battle of Goychay – The Islamic Army of the Caucasus under command of Nuri Killigil defended the city of Goychay (city), Goychay, Azerbaijan from the 11th Army (RSFSR), 11th Red Army.
* Canadian hospital ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by German submarine with the loss of 234 of the 258 people on board, making it the deadliest naval disaster in Canadian history.
* Axeman of New Orleans – Louis Besumer and his mistress Harriet Lowe were attacked in his New Orleans home with an axe that Besumer owned. Besumer survived the attack but the resulting investigation led to him becoming a suspect in the case. He served a nine-month sentence before a new trial acquitted him. The attack was similar to a previous murder involving an axe as a weapon and became connected to a series of subsequent serial murders in New Orleans.
* The Royal Navy established the Gunnery and Torpedo Division (Royal Navy), Gunnery and Torpedo Division.
* Born: Adolph Kiefer, American swimmer, gold medalist at the 1936 Summer Olympics, in Chicago (d. 2017); Edgar Kain, New Zealand air force officer, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom), Distinguished Flying Cross for action during the Battle of France, in Hastings, New Zealand (d. 1940, killed in action)
* Died: Joséphin Péladan, French occultist, promoter of Catholic occultism, founder of the ''Salon de la Rose + Croix'' (b. 1858)

Friday, June 28, 1918

* Born: William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw, William Whitelaw, British politician, cabinet minister for the Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher administrations, in Nairn, Scotland (d. 1999)
* Died: Albert Henry Munsell, American inventor, creator of the Munsell color system (b. 1858 in art, 1858)

Saturday, June 29, 1918

* The United States Army Air Service established the 2nd Pursuit Group at the Toul-Croix de Metz Airfield in France using pilots from the 13th Aero Squadron.
* The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority opened the Andrew station for the Red Line (MBTA), Red Line in Boston.
* Bronx International Exposition of Science, Arts and Industries opened in New York City.
* Born: Francis W. Nye, American air force officer, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, and Sandia Base during the 1960s, two-time recipient of the Legion of Merit and Distinguished Flying Cross (United States), Distinguished Flying Cross, in Barton, Vermont (d. 2019)
* Died: John Ames Mitchell, American publisher, co-founder of ''Life (magazine), Life'' magazine (b. 1845); Tomás Claudio, Filipino soldier, first Filipino soldier to serve and die in an international conflict (killed in action near Château-Thierry, France) (b. 1892)

Sunday, June 30, 1918

* Battle of Goychay – The Islamic Army of the Caucasus defeated the 11th Army (RSFSR), 11th Red Army at Goychay (city), Goychay, Azerbaijan, allowing them to occupy lands between Goychay and Shamakhi.
* The first meeting between the Zionism, Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and Arab Revolt leader Faisal I of Iraq, Prince Faisal took place at Faisal's headquarters in Aqaba in an attempt to establish favorable relations between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East.C.D. Smith, 2001, ''Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict'', 4th ed., , p. 80
* Died: James Douglas (businessman), James Douglas, Canadian-American industrialist, leading developer of the mining industry in Arizona including the Copper Queen Mine, grandfather to Lewis Williams Douglas (b. 1837)

References

{{Events by month links

June, 1918
1918, *1918-06
Months in the 1910s, *1918-06