On this day...... 5 August

641: At the battle of Maserfelth, possibly near modern Oswestry, the pagan king Penda of Mercia defeated and killed king Oswald of Northumbria.  Oswald was regarded as a Christian martyr against the pagan, and honoured as a saint.  His day is 5 August in the Roman Catholic tradition, 9 August in the Anglican.

910: The English under Edward of Wessex defeated the Danes of York at Tettenhall in Staffordshire.

1388: A Scots army under the Earl of Douglas defeated an English army under Henry Percy "Hotspur" at Otterburn.  However, Douglas was slain by Hotspur before the latter was captured.

1711: In what is often regarded as his most brilliant success, the Duke of Marlborough managed to break through the supposedly impregnable French Ne Plus Ultra line of fortifications in Flanders, without a major battle or siege being needed.  A carefully prepared deception plan completely misled the French as to where he intended to attack, and a daring night march with his army saw him suddenly emerge at Arleux, totally unhinging the French defences.

1882: During a patrol in Egypt, an officer of the King's Royal Rifle Corps fell mortally wounded.  He was lying under heavy fire in the open, but Private Corbett insisted on going to his aid and attempting to dress his wounds.  Although this proved in vain, Corbett stayed with the dying man until the British troops were able to carry his body to safety.  Corbett received the Victoria Cross, but later forfeited the award when convicted two years later of theft and embezzlement.

1914: The Royal Navy caught and sank the German minelayer Konigin Luise - the first naval loss on either side during the First World War.

1940: Once again, the main air combat occurred over the Dover Straits.  The day's events are recorded on the RAF's Battle of Britain website.