On This Day ... in 1797 & Others
Admiral of the Blue Sir Adam Duncan led his fleet to victory at Camperdown when the Batavian Republic's fleet, under de Winter, attempted to break out past his blockade. Nine of the fifteen Dutch ships of the line were captured in a fierce melee action.
The dispatch in which Duncan announced this most important victory has been often printed, and need not be quoted here. The following letter is of special interest, having been written by Admiral Duncan to his brother-in-law, Robert Dundas of Arniston, Lord Advocate of Scotland, before the Admiral had landed
"My dear Advocate,
As I am sure no friend will rejoice more at my good fortune that attends me than you will, I write you these few lines to say I hope the action I have had with the Dutch, who fought with their usual gallantry, is not exceeded by any this war. We have suffered much; the returns I have had, and have not had half, exceed 191 killed and 565 wounded. From only two Dutch ships 250 killed and 300 wounded. We was obliged from being so near land to be rather rash in our attack, by which we suffered more. Had we been ten leagues at sea none would have escaped. Many had surrendered, but got off in the night. We were much galled by their frigates when we could not act; in short, I feel perfectly satisfied all was done that could be, nor have any fault to find.
I have now in my possession three Admirals, Dutch: an Admiral De Winter, Vice-Admiral Beyntjes, and Rear-Admiral Therises. The Admiral is on board with me, and a most agreeable man he is, speaks English well, and seems much pleased with his treatment. I have assured him, and with Justice, nothing could exceed his gallantry; he says nothing hurts him but that he is the first Dutch Admiral who ever surrendered - so much more credit to me. He tells that the troops that were embarked in the summer were 25,000 Dutch, all designed for Ireland, but after August this expedition was given up. The Government in Holland, much against his opinion, insisted on his going to sea to show they had done so, and he was just going to return when I saw him. I am sure I have every reason to be thankful to God Almighty for his kindness to me on this occasion and all others. I believe the pilot and myself were the only two unhurt on the quarter-deck, and De Winter, who is as tall and big as I am, was the only one on his quarter-deck left alive. After all my fatigue I am in perfect health and in my usual spirits. God bless you, my dear friend, and believe me most faithfully yours,
Adam Duncan."
"Venerable, getting up to Sheerness,
October 15th, 1797."
1855: Commander Commerell
and
Quartermaster Rickard and a seaman landed on the Crimean coast to raid a Russian supply depot. The men walked through very difficult terrain to reach their target, and managed to set fire to a large grain store. However, this alerted the guards and an exhausting chase developed back to the shore.
The seaman became stuck fast in mud, but Rickard managed to get him free. All three eventually made it safely back to their ship. Commerell and
Rickard received the Victoria Cross. Commerell was later to become Admiral of the Fleet.
1915: At Bethune in France, Sergeant Raynes, Royal Field Artillery, rescued a wounded man and got him under cover. They then came under gas attack, whereupon Raynes gave the injured man his own gas mask. The attack left Raynes seriously ill, and he was resting the following day in a house when it was hit by an enemy shell. Raynes was buried under the rubble, but when dug out, insisted on helping rescue others trapped inside despite his accumulated injuries. He received the Victoria Cross.
1918: Lieutenant Wallace Algie, 1st Central Ontario Regiment, was killed after successfully leading an attack to clear a village of German troops, during which he eliminated two machine-gun positions. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
His citation reads
On 11 October 1918 north east of Cambrai, France, Lieutenant Algie was with attacking troops which came under heavy enfilade machine-gun fire from a neighbouring village. Rushing forward with nine volunteers he shot the crew of an enemy machine-gun and then turned the gun on the enemy, enabling his party to reach the village. He rushed another machine-gun, killing the crew and capturing an officer and 10 men, thereby clearing the end of the village. He then went back for reinforcements but was killed while leading them forward.
1939: The Empire Air Training Scheme was introduced. One of the great successes of wartime organisation, it provided for the training of over 88,000 aircrew from the Dominions and Empire, with flying schools established in a wide variety of locations from southern Africa to Canada.
1940: Southern England suffered seven significant air attacks.
HMS Ajax, which had served with distinction the previous year at the River Plate against the German "pocket battleship" Graf Spee, encountered three Italian destroyers in a night action in the Mediterranean.
She sank Airone and Ariel, and badly damaged Artigliere, which was finished off by HMS York on 12 October.
Ajax was refitted at Chatham dockyard between May and October 1942. She returned to the Mediterranean upon completion of her refit and was almost immedeately badly damaged by bombing on 1 January 1943. She went to the United States for repairs at the New York Navy Yard and was out of action until October 1943. She again returned to the Mediterranean but was recalled to home waters for the Notmandy invasion in June. Once again she returned to the Mediterranean for the invasion of southern France in August. She remained in the Mediterranean for the remainder of the war.
She was decommissioned in February 1948. Initially intended to be sold to Thailand but this deal did not materialize. She arrived at Newport for breaking up on 18 November 1949.
1944: Australian forces landed at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain, opening the successful New Britain campaign in which a small militia force successfully contained the large Japanese garrison holding Rabaul.