Today in Military History 8 February

1857  Malcolmson was 21 years old, and a lieutenant in the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry, Indian Army during the Persian War when the following deed took place for which he and Arthur Thomas Moore were awarded the VC.

On 8 February 1857 at the Battle of Khushab, Persia, the adjutant of the regiment, Lieutenant Moore was probably the first in the attack, but his horse, on leaping into the square, fell dead, crushing his rider and breaking his sword. The adjutant extricated himself and tried with his broken sword to force his way through the enemy, but he would almost certainly have lost his life had not Lieutenant Malcolmson seen his plight, fought his way to his dismounted comrade and, giving him his stirrup, carried him to safety. W

1857  Lieutenant Moore Received the Victoria Cross.

 On 8 February 1857 at the Battle of Khushab, Persia, Lieutenant Moore who was Adjutant of the Regiment, was probably the first in the attack, but his horse, on leaping into the square, fell dead, crushing his rider and breaking his sword. Lieutenant Moore extricated himself, but he would almost certainly have lost his life had not Lieutenant John Grant Malcolmson fought his way to his dismounted comrade and carried him to safety. In this battle Lieutenant Moore also charged an infantry square of 500 Persians at the head of his regiment and jumped his horse over the enemy's bayonets W

1881 Battle of Schuinshoogte, also known as Battle of Ingogo, was fought north of Newcastle, KwaZulu-NatalBattle of Schuinshoogte, also known as Battle of Ingogo, was fought north of Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal  W

 1904  Battle of Port Arthur: A surprise torpedo attack by the Japanese at Port Arthur, China starts the Russo-Japanese War. W

1904 Dutch Colonial Army's Marechaussee regiment led by General G.C.E. van Daalen launch military campaign to capture Gayo Highland, W

1917 Tribal Class Destroyer HMS GURKHA is sunk by a mine off Dungeness. 

1942   Japan invades Singapore W

1942 Dutch Colonial Army General Destruction Unit (AVC, Algemene Vernielings Corps) burns Banjarmasin, South Borneo to avoid Japanese capture. W

1945 The United Kingdom and Canada commence Operation Veritable to occupy the west bank of the Rhine. W

1945 Mikhail Devyataev escapes with nine other Soviet inmates from a Nazi concentration camp in Peenemünde on the island of Usedom W

1948 AB Lowe was one of 51 sailors on the liberty boat returning to HMS Illustrious in 1948 and was trapped under a canopy when the boat sank. Struggling free, he surfaced, saw a life-belt and swam towards the ship. As he reached the stern a line was thrown to him; just then Mr Lowe heard a cry for help and saw a midshipman about 10 yards away in great difficulty. Disregarding his own safety, Mr Lowe grabbed the line and swam to the now unconscious midshipman and pulled him to the ship side.

For this action he won the Albert Medal later  in 1971 it was changed for the George Cross following a change in the Royal Warrant.