1794: At Honolulu the American merchant sloop Lady Washington fired a 13-gun salute to greet the English schooner Jackal as it arrived in port. The Jackal returned the salute — instantly killing the Washington's captain and several crewmen. One of its cannon loaded with grapeshot had not been properly unloaded.

1940: The George Cross is gazetted for Sub-Lt Peter Victor Danckwerts RNVR, who had only handled mines under instruction when, after just five weeks in the service, he disarmed 16 mines in 48 hours

The destroyer USS Claxton was recommissioned as HMS Salisbury as part of the destroyers-for-bases deal

1942: The four surviving canoeists from the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment - Major Hasler, Marine Sparks, Corporal Laver, Marine Mills - reached their target, the ports at Bordeaux and Bassens, having set out on 7 December. Their limpet mines destroyed or damaged four merchant ships, a tanker and a naval auxiliary. The Marines then attempted to escape on foot to Spain. Only Hasler and Sparks reached safety. The other eight Royal Marines who set out on Frankton either drowned at sea or were captured and executed by the Germans.