On This Day ... in 1805 & Others
Vice Admiral of the White Viscount Nelson won his great victory over the Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar, flying his flag in HMS Victory. Nelson commanded 27 ships of the line against Vice-Admiral Villeneuve's 33. The British ships ran a gauntlet of fire to break through the Franco-Spanish line, and fight a devastating close-range gunnery action. 16 French and Spanish ships were destroyed, and four captured. Lord Nelson was fatally wounded by a marksman aboard the Redoutable, but survived long enough to be assured that his fleet was victorious.
1899: A Boer Commando led by Kock raided Elandslaagte near Ladysmith. A force under Hamilton was rushed by railway to the scene, and in a fierce action drove off the Boers, half of whom fell casualties. Four Victoria Crosses were won:
Captain Meiklejohn, Gordon Highlanders
Captain Johnston, Imperial Light Horse
Captain Mullins, Imperial Light Horse
Sergeant-Major Robertson, Gordon Highlanders
1940: Taking advantage of bad weather, the Luftwaffe mounted a series of small raids across the country. Night attacks were launched against London, Liverpool and the Midlands.
1944: During a river crossing operation in Italy, Private Ernest 'Smoky' Smith, of the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders, knocked out four enemy tanks and assault guns with a PIAT infantry anti-tank weapon.
He received the Victoria Cross.
1960: HMS Dreadnought, the first nuclear-powered submarine in the Royal Navy, was launched.
Comments
I think you've got the numbers mixed! It was 4 destroyed and 16 captured, most of which as prizes were tragically lost in a storm on the way to England. but the result was the same anyway!
Posted by: David Davis | October 20, 2008 7:55 PM
Nice post but I believe the correct term is gantlet.
Posted by: Tony Surud | October 22, 2009 11:55 PM