On this day...... 1 September

1855: At Sevastopol, Private Strong, Coldstream Guards, won the Victoria Cross by picking up a live Russian shell which had fallen into a British trench, and throwing it safely away before it exploded.

1900: In South Africa, Lieutenant Wylly of the Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen, was part of a scout patrol that ran into a Boer ambush.  Wylly and several others were wounded, but, seeing that one of his comrades' horse had also been hit, he gave up his own horse to the wounded man, then remained behind to give covering fire while the rest of the patrol escaped.  Wylly avoided capture and was awarded the Victoria Cross, as was Trooper Bisdee, who dismounted to lead the horses of some of the more badly wounded men.

1914: "The Affair at Nery" saw a fierce cavalry action fought between the British 1st Cavalry Brigade and the entire German 4th Cavalry Division.  The British cavalry covering the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force, were surprised at first light by the German cavalry at the village of Nery.  Two machine-guns from the 2nd Dragoon Guards, under Lieutenant Lamb, and three guns from L Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery provided covering fire despite being heavily outgunned by their opponents.  Two of L Battery's guns were quickly knocked out, but the sole remaining gun continued to fight a duel with eight German guns until its ammunition had been exhausted, manned by Captain Bradbury, Sergeant Major Dorrell and the wounded Sergeant Nelson - all three were awarded the Victoria Cross, posthumously in the case of Captain Bradbury.  Lieutenant Lamb won the Distinguished Service Order.  Despite their superiority in numbers, the German cavalry was forced to withdraw, abandoning their eight artillery guns.  L Battery is now part of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.  1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards are the modern successors to 2nd Dragoon Guards.

1918: Eight Victoria Crosses were won on the Western Front:

• Lieutenant Towner, Australian Machine-Gun Corps
• Sergeant Grant, Wellington (New Zealand) Regiment
• Sergeant Lowerson, 21st (Victoria) Australian Battalion
• Corporal Buckley, 54th (New South Wales) Australian Battalion (posthumous)
• Corporal Hall, 54th (New South Wales) Australian Battalion
• Private Nunney, Eastern Ontario Regiment (posthumous)
• Private Mactier, 23rd (Victoria) Australian Battalion (posthumous)
• Private Currey, 53rd (New South Wales) Australian Battalion

1939: Despite a British and French ultimatum, Germany invaded Poland.

1940: The Luftwaffe continued heavy attacks on RAF airfields.   The day's events are recorded on the RAF's Battle of Britain website.