October 05

Sanité Bélair was born in 1781 in Cap-Français (now Cap-Haïtien). She married Brigade-General Charles Bélair and joined the Haitian revolutionary army during the struggle against French colonial rule. Guarding the life of the revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture, she quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant. One of the few female officers in the army, she inspired troops with her courage and leadership. After being captured, she was executed by firing squad in 1802, becoming a martyr for Haitian independence.

Charles Cornwallis was born in 1738 into an aristocratic family in London. He served with distinction in the Seven Years' War and later commanded British forces during the American War of Independence. In 1781, his surrender at Yorktown marked a turning point in American history. Cornwallis later served as Governor-General of India, introducing administrative and revenue reforms. He ended his career as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, dealing with political unrest and advocating for reform. Cornwallis died in 1805, remembered for both his military and colonial administrative roles.

Tecumseh was born around 1768 in the Ohio Country and became a prominent Shawnee leader. He worked alongside his brother, the Prophet Tenskwatawa, to establish Prophetstown and revive indigenous culture. Tecumseh built a pan-tribal confederacy aimed at resisting American settlement in Native lands. He allied with the British during the War of 1812, hoping to secure support for his cause. Tecumseh was killed at the Battle of the Thames in 1813, becoming a lasting symbol of Native American resistance.

Roland Garros (1888–1918) was a trailblazing French pilot celebrated for making the first solo flight across the Mediterranean Sea in 1913. When World War I broke out, he joined the French Air Service and distinguished himself as a skilled fighter pilot. Garros pioneered the use of a forward-firing machine gun with deflector plates, influencing modern aircraft armaments. Captured by German forces in 1915, he famously escaped captivity and returned to active duty. He was killed in aerial combat in 1918, and his name lives on through Paris's Roland Garros Stadium, site of the French Open.

Christopher Birdwood Thomson (1875–1930) served with distinction in the Indian Army and later with the British Army during World War I. He rose to the rank of Major General, earning praise for his leadership in Middle East campaigns. After retirement, he transitioned to politics as 1st Baron Thomson and took a seat in the House of Lords. In 1930, he was appointed Secretary of State for Air, overseeing the expansion and modernization of the Royal Air Force. Tragically, Thomson died in the crash of the R101 airship while on official duty. His contributions to military command and civil aviation policy remain significant in the interwar period.

Nikolai Yudenich (1862-1933) was one of the principal commanders of the anti-Bolshevik White forces in northwestern Russia. He is best known for leading two major offensives against the Red Army in the Baltic region. Born in Grodno Governorate, he graduated from the Nicholas General Staff Academy and served in the Russo-Japanese War and World War I. As a general, Yudenich displayed strategic acumen, earning distinction for his coordination of multinational units. Despite early successes, his campaigns ultimately faltered due to logistical challenges and lack of external support. After the defeat of the White movement, he lived in exile, first in Estonia, then in France. His military legacy remains a subject of study for officers interested in early 20th-century warfare.