On this day...... 6 August

1914: The first Allied naval loss of the First World War - the cruiser HMS Amphion was sunk by a mine in the North Sea.

1915: British troops landed during the night 6/7 August at Suvla Bay at the northern end of the Gallipoli peninsula in an attempt to break the deadlock besetting the campaign there.  Only a small bridgehead was established, and although this did eventually extend far enough south to link up with the ANZAC positions at Ari Burnu, it failed to achieve the desired breakthrough.  To divert attention from the landings, the ANZACs launched a series of bloody attacks at Lone Pine, suffering 2,200 casualties and inflicting 5,000 losses on the Turks.

1916: Private Short of the Yorkshire Regiment took part in a bombing attack on German positions on the Western Front.  He was wounded in the foot, but refused to retire.  He was then caught in a shell explosion which shattered his leg.  Unable to stand, he lay in a trench, preparing grenades for the other members of the bombing team until he died of his wounds.  He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

1917: A Stokes mortar misfired in a British trench, the shell landing amongst British troops.  Private Butler of the West Yorkshire Regiment used his body to screen the shell until his comrades had got clear, then picked it up and threw it out of the trench.  It then exploded, causing damage to the trench, but no injury, save to Private Butler who suffered concussion.  He received the Victoria Cross.

1940: Poor weather reduced Luftwaffe activity to reconnaissance missions and minor attacks.  The day's events are recorded on the RAF's Battle of Britain website.

1944: German troops attacked British positions in Normandy held by the Royal Norfolk Regiment.  They overran some positions, but then encountered Corporal Bates, who charged them with a Bren Gun.  He was wounded three times, but succeeded in driving the Germans back.  He collapsed, and died of his injuries two days later.  He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.