On this day...... 17 August

1424: During the Hundred Years War, an English force defeated a Franco-Scots army at Verneuil, killing the Scottish commander, the Earl of Douglas.

1759: The French fleet blockaded in Toulon had taken advantage of the withdrawal of the British fleet to Gibraltar for refit, and broke out into the Atlantic, heading for Brest, where it was supposed to cover French landings in Essex.  Despite attaining a measure of surprise in running the Gibraltar Strait at night, de la Clue's fleet of twelve ships of the line was soon pursued by Sir Edward Boscawen's ships.  The French line was overhauled on 17 August off Lagos Bay, Portugal, and a fierce action ensued. Boscawen's flagship Namur suffered heavy damage to her rigging and dropped out the fight - he transferred his flag to the Newark - but the rear French ship, Centaur, was forced to surrender.  The coup de grace was delivered to the French fleet the following day.

1897: During a punitive expedition against the Afridis and Orakzais of the Tirah region on the North West Frontier, Lieutenant Colonel Adams, Lieutenant the Viscount Fincastle, and Lieutenant Maclean went to the rescue of a wounded officer lying under heavy fire in the open.  They managed to reach him, but while carrying him back, the wounded man was again hit and killed, as was Maclean.  Adams, Fincastle and Maclean were awarded the Victoria Cross for their efforts.

1915: Following his torpedo success on 12 August, Commander Edmonds sank a second Turkish ship.  Flight Lieutenant Dacre also sank a Turkish vessel with a torpedo, albeit launched by the unorthodox means of taxiing on the water whilst experiencing engine problems.

1940: Luftwaffe activity at a low level.  The day's events are recorded on the RAF's Battle of Britain website.

2001: British and Czech troops deployed to Macedonia, as the advance party for Task Force Harvest.