1765: John Harrison demonstrated his fourth chronometer to the Board of Longitude, set up at the Admiralty's behest to seek an accurate timepiece which could permit longitude to be measured accurately for navigation. An award of £20,000 was offered. Harrison's fourth chronometer design finally provided the breakthrough needed for precision timekeeping.

1914: German naval codebooks were recovered by the Imperial Russian Navy from the wreck of the light cruiser Magdeburg, and passed to the Royal Navy - one of the most important intelligence coups of the First World War. The Royal Navy's cryptographers in Room 40 were able to read German naval wireless signals for a considerable period of time thereafter, Royal Navy ships often being able to put to sea before German raiders had even left harbour.

1917: Although badly burnt by an enemy flamethrower, Second Lieutenant Hardy Falconer Parsons of the Gloucestershire Regiment mounted a single-handed defence with grenades against a German night attack long enough for reinforcements to arrive and hold the position. He died of his appalling injuries and was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross

His citation reads

For most conspicuous bravery during a night attack by a strong party of the enemy on a bombing post held by his command. The bombers holding the block were forced back, but Second Lieutenant Parsons remained at his post, and, single-handed, and although severely scorched and burnt by liquid fire, he continued to hold up the enemy with bombs until severely wounded.

This very gallant act of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty undoubtedly delayed the enemy long enough to allow of the organisation of a bombing party, which succeeded in driving back the enemy before they could enter any portion of the trenches. The gallant officer succumbed to his wounds.

Near Ypres, Second Lieutenant Moore, Hampshire Regiment led an assault on a formidable German position containing machine-guns and an artillery piece. At the start, the British attackers numbered seventy, but by the time Moore took the position and some thirty prisoners, only himself and five others remained. Nevertheless, they then held their ground for 36 hours. Another fifty to sixty men reinforced them, but the relentless German attacks reduced them back down to ten, and they were eventually forced to withdraw. Moore received the Victoria Cross.

1940: Luftwaffe activity remained at a low level, with the exception of one large raid in the afternoon.