On This Day ... in 1857 & Others
During the war with Persia, the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry charged 500 enemy infantry who had adopted a defensive square formation, almost impenetrable to cavalry attack. Nevertheless, Lieutenant Arthur Moore jumped his horse over the bayonets into the midst of the formation. But his horse was shot dead and fell, trapping Moore beneath its body and breaking his sword.
Lieutenant John Grant Malcolmson came to Moore's rescue, fighting his way into the enemy ranks until he reached his comrade, who was defending himself with what remained of his sword.
The two then escaped from the enemy formation, Moore clutching Malcolmson's stirrup. Both men were awarded the Victoria Cross. Their citation reads
On the occasion of an attack on the enemy led by Lieutenant-Colonel Forbes, CB, Lieutenant Moore the Adjutant of the regiment, was perhaps the first of all by a horse's length. His horse lept into the Persian square and instantly fell dead, crashing down his rider and breaking his sword as he fell amid the broken ranks of the enemy.
Lieutenant Moore speedily extricated himself and attempted with his broken sword to force his way through the press; but he would assuredly have lost his life had not the gallant young Lieutenant Malcolmson, observing his peril, fought his way to his dismounted comrade through a crowd of enemies, to his rescue, and giving him his stirrup, safely carried him through everything out of the throng.
The thoughtfulness for others, cool determination, devoted courage and ready activity shown in extreme danger by this young officer, Lieutenant Malcolmson, appear to have been most admirable, and to be worthy of the highest honour.
1902: Surgeon Captain Arthur Martin-Leake, serving with the South African Constabulary, braved heavy and accurate Boer rifle fire to tend a casualty lying only 100 yards from the enemy at Vlakfontein. He then moved on to attend to a severely injured officer. Whilst dressing his wounds, Martin-Leake was himself wounded. However, he continued his medical duties until exhaustion finally forced him to rest. Even then, he refused to accept a water ration until all the other wounded had been served. Martin-Leake was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Twelve years later, serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps in France in October and November 1914, he became the first of only three men to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice, winning a Bar for conspicuous gallantry over a period of eleven days when he repeatedly rescued casualties lying exposed to enemy fire.
1942: The first Japanese troops succeeded in crossing the Johore Strait and landed on the north-west shore of Singapore Island, forcing back the defenders from the Australian 8th Division.
1963: The P1127 prototype, forerunner of the Harrier, made the first test vertical landing and take-off from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal off Portland.