1415 Henry V at Agincourt prevailed over a French force five times larger with the long bow made from Welsh Yew wood. The elasticity of the yew gave the bow a range greater than anything else, making it the artillery of the day. Its arrows struck with sufficient force to penetrate a knight’s armour. It was good night for the knights. Hundreds were killed before they came within range of their weapons. Hundreds more were killed after surrendering.
1616 Dutch sailor Dirk Hartog became the first recorded European to set foot on Australia’s western coast, and he left a message at Cape Inscription, Western Australia.
1854 At Balaclava the Light Brigade by mistake charged into death and legend.
1955 The Tappan Stove Company sold the first microwave oven. It was wall mounted and in today’s US dollars cost about $12,000. It weighted about 700 pounds. The wall and the weight were insulation.
1971 United Nations seated People’s Republic of China and to expel the Nationalist government of Taiwan.
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