1867: The captain and several crew members of the ship Assam Valley went missing on Little Andaman Island in the Bay of Bengal. Fearing that they might have fallen victim to natives, who were believed still to practise cannibalism, a party of troops from the 24th Regiment was sent to investigate. However, a storm and heavy surf made it almost impossible for them to leave, and they risked in turn being overwhelmed. Five comrades from the Regiment therefore set out from the troopship to risk the waves, and eventually managed to extricate the shore party. Most unusually, all five were awarded the Victoria Cross, not for gallantry in action with an enemy, but for risking their lives to save others.

1942: After two days fighting, the port of Diego Suarez on Vichy-held Madagascar surrendered to British troops as Operation Ironclad secured the convoy route around Africa to Suez.

1944: Bomber Command continued to prepare the way for the Normandy landings, now only a month away, bombing airfields, ammunition dumps and coastal batteries at five locations in France during the night.

1945: In the early hours of the morning at Rheims, Admiral von Friedeburg and General Jodl signed the unconditional surrender of all German armed forces.