Today in Military History 6 May

1527      Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. One hundred forty-seven Swiss Guards, including their commander, die fighting the forces of Charles V in order to allow Pope Clement VII to escape into Castel Sant'Angelo. W

1536       The Siege of Cuzco commences, in which Incan forces attempt to retake the city of Cuzco from the Spanish W

1659        English Restoration: A faction of the British Army removes Richard Cromwell as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth and reinstalls the Rump Parliament. W

1757        Battle of Prague: A Prussian army fights an Austrian army in Prague during the Seven Years' War. W

1757    The end of Konbaung–Hanthawaddy War, and the end of Burmese Civil War (1740–1757). W

1801      Captain Thomas Cochrane in the 14-gun HMS Speedy captures the 32-gun Spanish frigate El Gamo. W

1857     The British East India Company disbands the 34th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry whose sepoy Mangal Pandey had earlier revolted against the British and is considered to be the First Martyr in the War of Indian Independence. W

1861      American Civil War: Arkansas secedes from the Union. W

1863      American Civil War: The Battle of Chancellorsville ends with the defeat of the Army of the  W

1877      Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Lakota surrenders to United States troops in Nebraska. W

1942      The last American forces in the Philippines surrender to the Japanese. W

1945      World War II: The Prague Offensive, the last major battle of the Eastern Front, begins. W

1969 

    

On the 21 August Ray Simpson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on the 6May 1969 in Kontum Province, near the Laotion border. W

Government House,

Canberra, ACT 2600

21 August 1969

HER Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to bestow the award of the Victoria Cross upon the following member of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps For most conspicuous bravery.