Anniversary of two battles today

April the Second is the anniversary of at least two battles in which the British were successful.
The Battle of Copenhagen, 1801, where Admiral Nelson defeated the Danes. That was the battle where Nelson placed a telescope against his blind eye and claimed not to see his superior officer's signal.
The Battle of Gingindlovu, 1879, where the British Army defeated the Zulus. It's not one of the famous battles, probably because nobody made a film about it and Michael Caine didn't look all heroic. It was important at the time, though.

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gandalf1957 · 61-69, M

With regard to the Falkland and not bombing mainland Argentina, I suspect that not bombing mainland Argentina was the price paid for support from the US Reagan administration that found itself in a difficult position I believe caught between the UK and a South American country.

MandyMitchell · 80-89, F

@gandalf1957 Could be - it also kept the war focussed in a small area, which suited our very small and much outnumbered strike force

gandalf1957 · 61-69, M

@MandyMitchell It may have been outnumbered but in many instances had more modern equipment, i seem to remember that the General Belgrano was an ex WW2 US naval ship recommissioned by the Argentines

MandyMitchell · 80-89, F

@gandalf1957 She was indeed - with powerful guns of larger calibre than our wee frigates. Our Harrier jets outmatched anything Argentina had and our Royal Marines, Paras and Guards were better soldiers.