On this day...... 14 September

1141: During the Anarchy, the Empress Matilda's army was routed at Winchester by troops loyal to King Stephen, led by his Queen, also named Matilda.  They managed to capture the Earl of Gloucester, one of the Empress' key supporters, and used him to barter for the release of King Stephen himself, who had previously been captured at Lincoln.

1402: Archibald Douglas led a Scots army across the border on a raid which penetrated as far as Durham.  However, returning north laden with booty, they were confronted near Milfield by the Earl of Northumberland, his son Henry "Hotspur", and the dissident Scots noble George Dunbar, Earl of March.  The English took up a strong defensive position atop Homildon and Harehope Hills, and their longbowmen slaughtered the Scots before the English men-at-arms delivered the coup de grace.  Another 500 Scots drowned in the Tweed trying to escape.  Douglas was severely wounded by an arrow in the eye and captured, with significant numbers of other Scottish nobles and gentry.  English losses were just five men killed.

1857: After several months of siege, the British launched their assault on Delhi.  Artillery had blown a breach in the walls, and a small party of men from the Bengal Engineers managed to demolish the Kashmir Gate with an explosive charge.  The assault cost the British heavy casualties, but after six days fighting, the city fell.  No less than ten VCs were awarded, including the first ever posthumous award, granted to the sapper officer killed leading the demolition party at the Kashmir Gate:

• Lieutenant Salkeld, Bengal Engineers (posthumous)
• Lieutenant Home, Bengal Engineers
• Lieutenant Shebbeare, 60th Bengal Infantry
• Surgeon Reade, 61st Regiment
• Colour-Sergeant Waller, 60th Rifles
• Sergeant Smith, Bengal Sappers & Miners
• Sergeant McGuire, 1st Bengal Fusiliers
• Lance-Corporal Smith, 52nd Regiment
• Drummer Ryan, 1st Bengal Fusiliers
• Bugler Hawthorne, 52nd Regiment

1914: As the Germans pulled back in France, having failed to take Paris, the Allies counter-attacked on the Aisne. Five VCs were won:

• Captain Wright, Royal Engineers (posthumous)
• Captain Johnston, Royal Engineers
• Lance-Corporal Fuller, The Welch Regiment
• Private Tollerton, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
• Private Wilson, Highland Light Infantry

1940: London continued to suffer major Luftwaffe attacks.  One small attack on Warrington also inflicted disproportionate casualties, hitting a works canteen at a paper mill .  The day's events are recorded on the RAF's Battle of Britain website.