On This Day ... in 1918 & Others
In France, Corporal RE Elcock of the 11 Battalion, Royal Scots, charged a pair of German guns which were holding up the British advance. He captured both guns, along with five members of their crews. Elcock received the Victoria Cross.
His citation reads
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative, south-east of Cappelle St Catherine on 15th October 1918, when in charge of a Lewis gun team. Entirely on his own initiative Corporal Elcock rushed his gun up to within ten yards of enemy guns, which were causing heavy casualties and holding up the advance. He put both guns out of action, captured five prisoners and undoubtedly saved the whole attack from being held up. Later, near the River Lys, this N.C.O. again attacked an enemy machine-gun and captured the crew. His behaviour throughout the day was absolutely fearless.
1940: The Luftwaffe sent large fighter sweeps over the south of the country, and followed up with heavy night attacks on London and Birmingham.
1942: A running battle between convoy SC-104 and the U-boat wolfpack Wotan continued in appalling North Atlantic weather. Five merchant ships had been lost during the previous two nights, all to U-221, but on 15 October an RAF Liberator sank U-661, and HMS Viscount
rammed and sank U-619. Three more merchant ships and another U-boat were sunk the following day.