1871: Journalist Henry M. Stanley began his famous expedition to Africa to locate the missing Scottish missionary David Livingstone

1918: General Ludendorff unleashed the last major German offensive of the First World War - Operation Michael. Named for Germany's patron saint, the operation planned to use the large numbers of German troops freed from duty on the Eastern Front, following the collapse of Tsarist Russia, in a massive assault to secure victory in the West before US troops could arrive. It is also known as the Kaiserschlacht or Kaiser's Battle.

Three German armies hit a sixty mile long stretch of the British lines from Arras to St Quentin and south to La Fere. The defenders were over-stretched, due to the horrendous casualties suffered during the winter at Passchendaele and the recent need to take over responsibility for a greater section of the front owing to the equal exhaustion of the French.

The Germans attacked in a heavy mist, which hindered the Royal Flying Corps in bringing to bear its expertise in close air support and prevented senior headquarters from developing a clear and timely picture of the situation. Gough's Fifth Army effectively collapsed, whilst Byng's Third Army was swung back and northwards by the weight of the attack. The German success is often attributed to their use of specialist assault troops, but these took very heavy casualties in the process, and no less than eleven Victoria Crosses were won that day as fierce defensive actions and counter-attacks were fought the length of the front. It is worth remembering that most of the actions below were fought under heavy poison gas attack.

The VCs awarded were:

* 2nd Lieutenant Beal, for leading a counter-attack that captured four enemy machine-guns and rescuing a wounded man. He was killed in action a few hours later.

* Gunner Stone, for braving gas and artillery barrages to deliver an important report to the rear. He then returned and single-handedly fought as an infantryman defending his gun battery to allow it to remain in action.

* 2nd Lieutenant McLeod, a Canadian pilot of an RFC observation aircraft; he and his observer shot down a Fokker Triplane, but were then attacked by another eight. They shot two more down, but the fuel tank of their FK8 was set alight and both men were badly wounded. Nevertheless, McLeod managed to crash-land his aircraft and dragged his observer clear from the blazing wreckage.

* 2nd Lieutenant de Wind, who held a vital position with a handful of men under continual attack for seven hours, despite himself being wounded twice. A third wound finally proved fatal.

* Captain Hayward, for continuing to lead his men despite being buried alive in the opening German artillery barrage, suffering a head wound which left him deaf, and having his left arm shattered. He remained in action for three days, finally having to be evacuated after another head wound and complete exhaustion overtook him.

* 2nd Lieutenant Horsfall, who took command of a company after all the other officers had become casualties, despite himself suffering from a severe head wound. He led two successful counter-attacks before being killed in action.

* Lieutenant Ker, who led a small group of badly wounded men in a last-ditch defence after the Germans breached the British positions. Fighting first with a machine-gun, then with bayonets and revolvers after the Vickers Gun was knocked out, he and his men held off an entire German battalion for three hours, only surrendering when they had run out of ammunition.

* 2nd Lieutenant Buchan, who refused to be evacuated despite serious wounds. After distinguishing himself in a number of defensive actions, he was cut off alone by another German attack, and seen to fall fighting to the last against massive odds.

* Lance-Corporal Sayer, who commanded a small garrison which defended a position for two hours, fighting off attacks in thick mist. The garrison was eventually overrun and Sayer wounded and captured. He died of his injuries a few weeks later.

* Lieutenant Colonel Elstob, for leading his battalion of the Manchester Regiment in a determined defence. When ammunition ran low, Elstob himself ran back through the barrage to carry up fresh supplies. Twice wounded, he was eventually killed when German troops finally overran the position.

* Captain James, who led a counter-attack which took some thirty prisoners and a couple of machine-guns, then held the position for two days against multiple attacks, despite twice being wounded. When the Germans finally broke through, he remained behind to man a machine-gun on his own. He was finally wounded a third time and captured.

1942: Heavy Japanese air raids began to be mounted against Port Moresby, in preparation for the planned seaborne assault on the vital New Guinea harbour. RAAF squadrons were joined by USAAF units in their defence.

The Axis, aware a desperately needed British supply convoy was sailing from Alexandria to Malta, dispatched Vice Admiral Angelo Iachino from Taranto with the battleship Littorio and four destroyers. In addition, Rear-Admiral Angelo Parona set sail from Messina with the heavy cruisers Gorizia and Trento, the light cruiser Bande Nere and four destroyers. The stage was now set for the Second Battle of Sirte which took place the next day

1945: Lieutenant Raymond of the Royal Engineers accompanied a reconnaissance patrol in Burma, which ran into a concealed Japanese position. Despite coming under heavy fire, Raymond immediately charged forward. He was hit first in the shoulder, then the head, and then the arm, but continued his attack regardless. He broke into the enemy position, and, supported by the remainder of the patrol, managed to clear it. He insisted that other men wounded in the action received priority for medical treatment, and died of his injuries the next day. He was awarded the Victoria Cross.

2003: The RAF used its new Storm Shadow stand-off missile for the first time, 617 Squadron conducting precision attacks against strategic Iraqi targets. On the ground, 7th Armoured Brigade advanced towards Basrah while 16 Air Assault Brigade secured villages and oil installations in the desert and 3 Commando Brigade strengthened its position on the Al Faw peninsula. Two Royal Navy helicopters collided during night operations, with the loss of the six RN and one US personnel aboard.