On this day...... 7 September

1191: The Crusader army led by Richard Coeur de Lion, King of England, held off a succession of onslaughts by Saladin's army at Arsuf, near Jaffa.  Although Richard's victory allowed him to take Jaffa and Ascalon that winter, he was unable to capitalise on his success, the campaign fizzled out the following year and Saladin's offer of peace was accepted, ending the Third Crusade.

1642: One of the first actions of the English Civil War was fought at Babylon Hill near Yeovil.  Royalist troops under Sir Ralph Hopton were keeping watch on Yeovil Bridge and failed to spot the approach of Parliamentarian cavalry.  Each side's cavalry was so inexperienced that they both broke when they met in combat, but the Parliamentarians generally had the better of the fight.

1830: HMS Primrose, on anti-slavery patrol, rescued 555 slaves from the slave-ship Velos Passagera off the coast of Nigeria.

1863: In New Zealand, Colour-Sergeant McKenna and Lance-Corporal Ryan of the 65th Regiment each won the Victoria Cross for gallantry during an action against Maori insurgents.

1940: British forces were issued an "Invasion Imminent" warning, as German shipping massed at Channel ports.  The Luftwaffe switched targets from RAF airfields to London .  The day's events are recorded on the RAF's Battle of Britain website.  A hospital porter, Mr Dolphin, sacrificed his own life whilst saving a nurse from a falling wall during an air raid on New Cross.  He was awarded the George Cross posthumously.