Today in Military History 23 September

 

1338   The Battle of Arnemuiden, in which a French force defeats the English, is the first naval battle of the Hundred Years War and the first naval battle in which gunpowder artillery is used W

1409   The Battle of Kherlen is the second significant victory over Ming dynasty China by the Mongols since 1368. W

1459   The Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Wars of the Roses, is won by the Yorkists. W

1779   American Revolution: John Paul Jones, naval commander of the United States, on board the USS Bonhomme Richard, wins the Battle of Flamborough Head. W

1780   American Revolution: British Major John André is arrested as a spy by American soldiers exposing Benedict Arnold's change of sides. W

1803   Second Anglo-Maratha War: The Battle of Assaye is fought between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India. W

1899   The American Asiatic Squadron destroys a Filipino battery at the Battle of Olongapo. W

1918 

 For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice Ressaidar Badlu Singh recived the Victoria Cross

        His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officer: —

Ressaidar Badlu Singh, late 14th Lancers, attached 29th Lancers, Indian Army.

For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the morning of the 23rd September, 1918, when his squadron charged a strong enemy position on the west bank of the River Jordan, between the river and Kh. es Samariveh Village.

On nearing the position Ressaidar Badlu Singh realised that the squadron was suffering casualties from a small hill on the left front occupied by machine guns and 200 infantry. Without the slightest hesitation he collected six other ranks and with the greatest dash and an entire disregard of danger charged and captured the position, thereby saving very heavy casualties to the squadron. He was mortally wounded on the very top of the hill when capturing one of the machine guns single-handed, but all the machine guns and infantry had surrendered to him before he died.

His valour and initiative were of the highest order. London Gazette, 27 November 1918. W

1938   The Czechoslovak army is mobilized. W

1942   World War II: The Matanikau action on Guadalcanal begins: U.S. Marines attack Japanese units along the Matanikau River. W

1943   World War II: The Nazi puppet state known as the Italian Social Republic is founded. W

1950   Korean War: The Battle of Hill 282 is the first US friendly-fire incident on British military personnel since World War II. W

1950

Major  Kenneth Muir was posthumously awarded the VC for his action at the battle of Hill 282

On 23 September 1950, as part of the breakout from Pusan, the Argylls were ordered to take and hold Hill 282, near Songju, which was dominated by another higher feature, Hill 388, about 1500 metres to the west. Two companies of the battalion took the hill, but were heavily counter-attacked by superior numbers of