October 22, 2010
On This Day ... in 1707 & Others
HM Ships Association, Romney and Eagle ran aground on Scilly Isles during a storm, whilst returning from operations in the Mediterranean. Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell
one of the Royal Navy's most experienced and distinguished commanders, is believed to have survived the wreck, but to have been subsequently killed by looters.
October 21, 2010
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.
October 20, 2010
On This Day ... in 1781 & Others
Lieutenant-General Cornwallis was forced to surrender at Yorktown, attempts to withdraw across the river to Gloucester having failed, and the Royal Navy being unable to support him after its defeat by the French on 5 September. His capitulation secured American independence, although the Revolutionary War still had some course to run.
Continue reading "On This Day ... in 1781 & Others"October 19, 2010
On This Day ... in 1858 & Others
In India, Lieutenant Wood, of the 17th Lancers, led a charge against far superior numbers of mutineer cavalry and drove them from the field. He received the Victoria Cross.
In May 1857 the Indian Mutiny broke out in Meerut with devastating effect. As a result reinforcements were sent from Britain and the 17th Lancers embarked for this task in October. The Regiment did not land in India until December and were not fit for service until May 1858. By this stage the mutiny was all but over, save for one of the mutineer leaders, Tantia Topi, who was still at large. In order to apprehend Tantia Topi and his followers General Michel was given a force of 1000 infantry, four guns and a squadron of 17th Lancers under Sir William Gordon. The pursuit of Tantia Topi lasted nine months and covered a distance in excess of 1000 miles, 500 of which were covered in a single month. It was during this pursuit that Lieutenant Evelyn Wood (who had transferred from the Navy to the 17th Lancers and was eventually to rise to the rank of Field Marshal) was awarded a Victoria Cross for single handedly attacking a squadron of mutineers from the Bengal Light Infantry. Tantia Topi's force was eventually defeated; he was captured and court-marshalled in April 1859. The regimental farrier-sergeant assisted in the hanging. The rope with which Tantia Topi was hanged is displayed in the Regimental Museum of The Queen's Royal Lancers.
Continue reading "On This Day ... in 1858 & Others"October 18, 2010
On This Day ... in 1016 & Others
Cnut, King of Denmark, defeated Edmund Ironside, King of England, in battle at Ashingdon. Ironside was forced to cede the north of England to Cnut, and his subsequent murder resulted in Cnut gaining control over the whole of the country. Thus, for a brief period, England was thus part of a larger Scandinavian kingdom, but this fell apart after the death of Cnut and the failure of his son Harthacnut who was unable to take up the throne of England on the death of his father in 1035 due to the threat being posed from Norway.
Continue reading "On This Day ... in 1016 & Others"October 17, 2010
On This Day ... in 1777 & Others
Outnumbered four to one by the American revolutionary forces, Major-General Burgoyne was forced to surrender at Saratoga.
The British camp now found itself under a severe bombardment, with their only hope the rescue attempt from New York that had already stalled. Burgoyne now entered into negotiations with Gates. His proposal was that his army would surrender their arms and march out with honours of war. They would then be taken to Boston, from where they would return to Europe, not to return to America until after the war. This was acceptable to Gates, and on 17 October the British marched into captivity.
The two armies made an interesting contrast. Hardly any of the Americans had a recognisable uniform, one British officer describing them as wearing the cloths 'in which he goes to the field, the church or to the tavern'. The officers had uniforms of a sort, but each one different, possibly reflecting their service in the various state militias. In contrast, the British and Germans had retained their uniforms, although many were tattered. Much to the surprise of the American troops, many of the British officers had managed to keep their dress uniforms in pristine condition. The victorious Americans greeted their new prisoners with a respectful silence.
Of the 7,000 British and Germans who marched from Canada only 3,500 were fit for duty at the date of surrender but worse was to follow. The consequences of Burgoyne’s surrender were catastrophic. France and Spain declared war on Britain and the American effort was galvanized.
Continue reading "On This Day ... in 1777 & Others"October 16, 2010
On This Day ... in 1778 & Others
Major General Sir Thomas Munro captured the French strongpoint in India, Pondicherry.
Born is Glasgow on the 27th of May 1761, Thomas Munro was the son of an eminent merchant family. In 1779, with his father's business now failing, he was given a cadetship and sent off to India.
During his first few years he fought against Hyder Ali until a definitive treaty of peace was entered into with Tippoo Sultan. In February, 1786 he was promoted to a lieutenancy. During the following years Munro was attached to military intelligence and studied the Hindustani and Persian languages, achieving a fluency not often seen among Europeans. In 1790 Tippoo Sultan broke the peace and Munro returned to active duty with the 21st Regiment. In 1796 Munro was appointed Captain and, following the siege of Seringapatam and death of Tippoo, he was given charge of the civil administration of Kanara. His success in re-establishing order and governmental control led to his promotion to Major in 1800.
He was then entrusted with the superintendence of what were called the "Ceded Districts": a certain extent of territory, yielded up in perpetuity to the British East India Company by Nizam, in lieu of a monthly subsidy which had been previously exacted from him. Munro was successful in converting one of the most disorderly provinces in India into one of the most secure and tranquil districts in the possession of the Company. During the time of his services in the Ceded Districts, Munro was promoted, 24th April, 1804, to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
In 1807 Colonel Munro returned to England. He spent most of his time in Edinburgh, where he resumed his favourite study, chemistry, attending the lectures of Dr. Hope and reading such works on the subject as had appeared in his absence. During his residence in Britain, he took a lively interest in the Peninsular war, and was known to be in constant communication with the Duke of Wellington, who had become acquainted with him in the East. During his English hiatus he accompanied Sir John Hope to the Scheldt as a volunteer and was present at the siege of Flushing. With the East India Company's charter drawing to a close, there was a great of public inquiry into whether or not to renew it. Colonel's Munro's testimony at the various committees and inquiries led to his appointment as the head of a Special Commission with instructions to reform the judicial and police systems and he returned, now married, in 1814 to Madras, India.
In 1815 he was promoted to full colonel. While instituting civil reforms in the Madras region, in July of 1817, the Pindari War broke out with the Mabrattas and Munro asked to be re-assigned to active duty. His service was so exemplary and successful that his name became known throughout Europe and the Indian sub-continent. Canning said in the House of Commons: "He went into the field with not more than five or six hundred men, of whom a very small proportion were Europeans ... Nine forts were surrendered to him or taken by assault on his way; and at the end of a silent and scarcely observed progress he emerged ... leaving everything secure and tranquil behind him." He was promoted to Brigadier General in December of 1817. In the succeeding campaign which lasted till the beginning of August, 1818, General Munro reduced all the Peshwa’s territories between the Toombuddra and Kistna, and from the Kistna northward to Akloos on the Neemah, and eastward to the Nizam’s frontier. His health greatly impaired by the excessive fatigue which he had undergone, he resolved to resign all his commissions, both civil and military, and to retire into private life. In October of 1818 he was made a Companion of the Bath and returned with his family to England. He was however only home a few months when he received a formal communication from the government, appointing him to the governorship of Madras, and was soon after, in October 1819, promoted to the rank of major-general, and invested, November, 1819, with the insignia of K.C.B. Sir Thomas returned to India in 1820. Subsequently the Burmese war erupted, and Sir Thomas turned his attentions towards that struggle. In this war he again distinguished himself, as he had so often done before, by singular bravery, talent, and intelligence, and performed such important services that he was elevated, June 1825, to the dignity of a baronet of Great Britain. Finally in 1827, after repeated requests, Major General Sir Thomas Munro was relieved of duty and given permission to retire home to England. His replacement, the Right Honourable S. Lushington, relieved him of command in April of 1827.
Making a final farewell tour in the "Ceded Districts" Sir Thomas contracted cholera and died on the 6th of July 1827, perhaps fittingly never leaving the India that had so occupied his life and efforts. An equestrian statue of him was erected in Madras city. He is perhaps best known as the founder of the systems of revenue assessment and general administration known as "ryotwari" which remained substantially unchanged for over 100 years.
Continue reading "On This Day ... in 1778 & Others"October 15, 2010
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.
Continue reading "On This Day ... in 1918 & Others"October 14, 2010
On This Day ... in 1066 & Others
Following his destruction at Stamford Bridge of the Norwegian invasion (25 September), King Harold of England rushed back south to deal with the second threat, from the Norwegians' cousins the Normans, under Duke William the Bastard, who had landed at Pevensey near Hastings on 28 September.
William had perhaps 8,000 Norman, Breton, French and Flemish soldiers, including 3,000 knights. Harold brought his surviving army from York, and summoned reinforcements, giving him a similarly sized force.
The battle was fought at Senlac Hill. William's initial attack failed, and the Bretons on the left broke and routed. However, some of the fyrd, the English local militia, broke ranks and chased after them; a Norman counter-attack cut them to pieces. William maintained a relentless series of attacks, and the battle became one of attrition.
Finally, after perhaps seven or more hours combat, the knights broke through the English ranks, Harold fell, and the English broke. William was crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066.
Continue reading "On This Day ... in 1066 & Others"October 13, 2010
On This Day ... in 1812 & Others
US regular forces launched an attack across the Niagara River at Queenstown Heights which succeeded in capturing a British redoubt on the Heights.
Major General Brock, the victor at Detroit on 16 August, led an immediate counter-attack but was killed. However, the US commander, Winfield Scott, was unable to persuade US militiamen to cross the river to support him, and further British and American Indian forces under Major General Sheaffe eventually retook the position and forced his surrender.
Continue reading "On This Day ... in 1812 & Others"October 12, 2010
On This Day ... in 1597 & Others
England was spared a Spanish invasion at Falmouth by the intervention of the weather. For the third time a huge Armada had been assembled, with over 140 ships carrying 9,000 men. The best of the English fleet was absent under the Earl of Essex, engaged in fruitless patrolling off the Azores hoping to catch the Spanish silver convoy from the West Indies, and the approach of the Armada was quite unsuspected in England.
Fortunately, a gale caught Don Martin de Padilla's ships some thirty miles off the Lizard, scattering the fleet and sinking 28 of his ships. The first inkling the English had of their close escape was when one of the Spanish ships was forced to come into port at St Ives - even worse, it transpired that her master had previously spent three years on reconnaissance around the English coast helping plan the invasion. The episode helped secure Essex's fall from favour with Queen Elizabeth.
October 11, 2010
On This Day ... in 1797 & Others
Admiral of the Blue Sir Adam Duncan led his fleet to victory at Camperdown when the Batavian Republic's fleet, under de Winter, attempted to break out past his blockade. Nine of the fifteen Dutch ships of the line were captured in a fierce melee action.
The dispatch in which Duncan announced this most important victory has been often printed, and need not be quoted here. The following letter is of special interest, having been written by Admiral Duncan to his brother-in-law, Robert Dundas of Arniston, Lord Advocate of Scotland, before the Admiral had landed
"My dear Advocate,
As I am sure no friend will rejoice more at my good fortune that attends me than you will, I write you these few lines to say I hope the action I have had with the Dutch, who fought with their usual gallantry, is not exceeded by any this war. We have suffered much; the returns I have had, and have not had half, exceed 191 killed and 565 wounded. From only two Dutch ships 250 killed and 300 wounded. We was obliged from being so near land to be rather rash in our attack, by which we suffered more. Had we been ten leagues at sea none would have escaped. Many had surrendered, but got off in the night. We were much galled by their frigates when we could not act; in short, I feel perfectly satisfied all was done that could be, nor have any fault to find.
I have now in my possession three Admirals, Dutch: an Admiral De Winter, Vice-Admiral Beyntjes, and Rear-Admiral Therises. The Admiral is on board with me, and a most agreeable man he is, speaks English well, and seems much pleased with his treatment. I have assured him, and with Justice, nothing could exceed his gallantry; he says nothing hurts him but that he is the first Dutch Admiral who ever surrendered - so much more credit to me. He tells that the troops that were embarked in the summer were 25,000 Dutch, all designed for Ireland, but after August this expedition was given up. The Government in Holland, much against his opinion, insisted on his going to sea to show they had done so, and he was just going to return when I saw him. I am sure I have every reason to be thankful to God Almighty for his kindness to me on this occasion and all others. I believe the pilot and myself were the only two unhurt on the quarter-deck, and De Winter, who is as tall and big as I am, was the only one on his quarter-deck left alive. After all my fatigue I am in perfect health and in my usual spirits. God bless you, my dear friend, and believe me most faithfully yours,
Adam Duncan."
"Venerable, getting up to Sheerness,
October 15th, 1797."
October 10, 2010
On This Day ... in 1810 & Others
Facing strong French forces, Wellington retired behind the Lines of Torres Vedras, an impregnable line of fortifications protecting Portugal, built by Royal Engineers and thousands of Portuguese peasants.
Safe behind the Lines, Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese army gathered its strength over the winter, whilst Massena's French army suffered, encamped in hostile territory and with difficult lines of supply.
October 9, 2010
On This Day (Part 2) ... in 1967
This morning dear readers there is an additional On This Day post as today marks the anniversary of the happy slaying of commie scumbag Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, following his capture at Quebrada del Yuro in Bolivia
Yes, the man that while alive spouted bad politics & in death, hundreds of thousands of pieces of lousy student art finally got his own bullet riddled comeuppance
Deans World points it all out with the pic below...
& the following Che quote
"To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary...These procedures are an archaic bourgeois detail. This is a revolution! And a revolutionary must become a cold killing machine motivated by pure hate. We must create the pedagogy of the The Wall!"
"The Wall" meaning the wall that Che Guevara so happily put people up against to shoot them.
But Che didn't always bother with the wall. One of his favored methods of killing was to tie his victim to a chair, gag him, walk around the room a bit ranting at him, and then slowly walk up, pistol in hand — and splatter the victim's brains and skull across the room while his companions watched.
I bet that would play well down at the Student Union bar - happy hour could certainly take on a new meaning
On This Day ... in 1862 & Others
During the T'ai-p'ing rebellion in China, the British contingent included a Naval Brigade of Royal Navy sailors fighting ashore. On 9 October 1862 at Fung Wha, China, Able Seaman George Hinckley of HMS Sphinx volunteered to go to the rescue of the assistant master of the Sphinx, who was lying in the open severely wounded. The able seaman went out under heavy and continuous fire and carried the assistant master to the shelter of a joss-house 150 yards away. He then returned and carried a wounded army captain to safety.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross & later achieved the rank of Quartermaster. He died on 31 December 1904
October 8, 2010
On This Day ... in 1806 & Others
Royal Navy used rockets for the first time, in a bombardment of Boulogne.
October 7, 2010
On This Day ... in 1769 & Others
HMS Endeavour, under Lieutenant James Cook, arrived off Poverty Bay, New Zealand. A subsequent landing party the following day became the first Europeans to set foot in the country.
It was nearly a hundred years until the first expedition led by Captain James Cook, aboard the Endeavour arrived off the east coast at Poverty Bay on the 6th October, 1769. He spent almost six months around the coast and landed many times seeking supplies and therefore made close contact with the many Maori tribes living there. He was forced to resort to arms on one occasion, but the incident settled down and most of the trading was done on a friendly basis.
He sailed northwards and remained in the area which he called the Bay of Island's, from November to December, 1769, the first European to enter the area and record details of life. He noted in his journal: "The inhabitants of this bay were far more numerous than at any other place visited and that they seemed to live on friendly terms although they did not seem to be united under one head."
Cook anchored his ship in a sandy bay near Motuarohia Island when over thirty-seven canoes came out to them. The Maori traded with the ships crew and officers in an amicable way, he recorded. Cook dispatched a party to go ashore from the Endeavour when, after landing, they were surrounded by about five hundred armed warriors. They became more alarmed when they began a war dance and were seen to draw the ships long boats from the waters edge further up the beach.
The ships crew were ordered to fire their muskets over the heads of the gathered crowd. The startled Maori warriors and people turned and ran away quickly, leaving the European crew standing alone on the shore.
Cook decided to make another attempt to land next day. He put ashore near a large fortified village or 'pa', which he called an ''Indian fort." He and his crew, including the botanist aboard, Joseph Banks, were greeted by the occupant's and offered fish for sale or barter, yams and sweet potatoes. While there, they witnessed and recorded the arrival of a giant war canoe, which contained over eighty armed maori warriors.
The Endeavour left the Bay of Islands, but became be-calmed near the Cavalli Islands and managed to gain enough wind to anchor in Doubtless Bay, which has a very deep water anchorage. Six canoes came alongside with the maori occupants offering fish for sale.
Finally, a strong breeze came up and Cook weighed anchor, setting sail northeast from the coast of New Zealand, heading into the Pacific Ocean and beyond.
October 6, 2010
On This Day ... in 1762 & Others
An expeditionary force commanded by Rear Admiral Sir Samuel Cornish captured Manila in the Philippines.
The British had conceived a bold plan to attack Manila even before Spain's entry into the Seven Years war in January 1762. Their execution of that demonstrated their naval ascendancy and military prowess, but the aftermath highlighted the problems inherent in government through the East India Company.
The inspiration for the attack was as much dreams of loot as plans for commercial advantage or geopolitical advantage, and the expedition received limited support from the East India Company. But General William Draper and Vice Admiral Samuel Cornish managed to assemble in Madras a force of around 1750 soldiers (the 79th regiment, sepoys, and French deserters and other assorted troops), eight ships of the line, three frigates, and four store ships. Despite problems with elderly ships and the dangers of largely uncharted waters, all but two store ships arrived in Manila Bay on 23rd September 1762.
An immediate attack was a success. A landing south of Manila was followed by a bombardment and an assault, leading to capitulation. Acting governor Archbishop Antonio Rojo provided uninspiring leadership and surrendered the citadel and the port of Cavite as soon as the city fell.
Continue reading "On This Day ... in 1762 & Others"October 5, 2010
On This Day ... in 1338 & Others
French naval superiority at the start of the Hundred Years War was brutally demonstrated with an amphibious assault on Southampton by several thousand men under the ruthless Admiral Hugh Quieret.
The town's defences were completely inadequate, and most of the local militia fled. The small garrison of professional troops, backed by the braver elements from the townspeople, defeated the first assault but were then overrun by Italian mercenaries. The French and Italians thoroughly looted the town, but the next morning started to come under attack again, whereupon they withdrew, leaving Southampton in flames.
October 4, 2010
On This Day ... in 1916 & Others
In France, Second Lieutenant Henry Kelly, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, took over command of his company which had suffered dreadful casualties.
Although eventually reduced to just Kelly and three others still in action, they managed to take a German trench. However, two of the four fell casualty and a German counter-attack outflanked the position, forcing them to retire. Kelly carried back a casualty, then went back out to bring other wounded men in.
He also received a Military Cross and bar among his other awards, later achieving the rank of Major. In 1936, he went to fight in the Spanish Civil War.
Continue reading "On This Day ... in 1916 & Others"October 3, 2010
On This Day ... in 1263 & Others
Taking advantage of a recent gale which had scattered and damaged the Norwegian fleet of , King Hakon Hakonsson anchored off Largs,
Alexander III of Scots led his ships in to attack. Hakon had the most powerful fleet in northern waters, his power exemplified by his great flagship Kristsudin, and had been attempting to enforce Norwegian hegemony over the Western Isles. In confused fighting lasting several days, Alexander's men won the upper hand, and the Norwegian defeat was compounded by an opportunist attack from Ewan MacDougall in the Isles, who had previously avoided taking sides.
Haakon died on the return journey to Norway and his successor, Magnus, negotiated a treaty with Alexander ceding control of the Hebrides to Scotland.
