28 December 2006 - Ethiopian troops capture Mogadishu.

The rising threat of extremist Islamic groups in Somalia which, by 2006, had all but taken over the country led to an invasion by Ethiopian troops aiming to restore order and reinstall the democratic government.

The invasion began in July and with covert US assistance advanced on the capital Mogadishu which fell unopposed on 28 December the Islamists having evacuated the city.   A new Transitional Federal Government was installed backed by Ethiopia and the USA. 

29 December 1895 - The Jameson Raid (to 2 January 1896).

Following defeat in the 1st Boer War GB was obliged to restore independence to the Boer Republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State. Needless to say the British government was eager to bring the troublesome Boers back under their control and that task fell to Cecil Rhodes the Prime Minister of Cape Colony. 

A large proportion of the population of the Boer Republics were not Boers but outsiders (Uitlanders) lured there by the prospect of gold and diamonds. Rhodes began fomenting discontent among the Uitlanders over civil rights etc and by the end of 1895 had devised a plan. The Uitlanders would rise up in revolt, Rhodes would send in armed men in support of the uprising, between them they would seize control of the Republics and announce their wish to unite with Cape Colony.

Just after Christmas around 600 volunteers led by Leander Starr Jameson were ready to go as soon as word was received that the uprising had begun. No word came, in fact news came that it would not take place as the Uitlanders were not ready and it was too risky. Nevertheless with 600 restive men eager for action Jameson ordered the move into Transvaal on 29 December in the hope that their appearance would spur the Uitlanders into action. It did not, there was no uprising and no-one joined them as they headed for Johannesburg. Harassed by Boers along the way they got as far as Doornkop where they surrendered to the Boers on 2 January, 18 had been killed and 40 wounded.    

Jameson and his men were led away to prison in Pretoria. A few weeks later they were released on the condition that Jameson stood trial in London and the British pay compensation of almost one million pounds. He was tried and convicted receiving a sentence of 15 months, but was soon pardoned. The other principal casualty was Cecil Rhodes who resigned as PM of Cape Colony. 

He didn't live for long after his fall, he died in 1902 aged just 48.

Leander Jameson however prospered serving as PM of Cape Colony (as Rhodes had done) 1904-08. He was created a baronet, thus Sir Leander Starr Jameson, in 1911 and died in 1917. 

30 December 1460 - The Battle of Wakefield.

After years of stopping short of claiming the English Crown Richard, Duke of York in the summer of 1460 formally announced that he was the rightful King and that Henry VI was a usurper. He felt able to make this move because King Henry was his prisoner, he had been captured after defeat at the battle of Northampton and thus in his power.

However Henry's wife Queen Margaret was free and it was she who took up arms in her husband's name. The north of England was where she found most support, so a march on London was planned for the new year 1461. In response the Duke of York and his brother-in-law the Earl of Salisbury headed north spending Christmas at Sandal Castle near Wakefield unaware that a Lancastrian army was approaching. Under normal circumstances the Yorkists would have been safe in the castle, the Lancastrians led by the Duke of Somerset, were not equipped for a siege, but when the Duke of York saw the enemy approaching he gave the order to sally forth and take them on in open battle. It's likely that he underestimated Somerset's numbers, 15,000 to his 5500. 

The result was a near massacre; the Duke of York and his younger son were killed, the Earl of Salisbury captured and beheaded the next day. His mistake had cost him his life, the Yorkist claim now lay with his 18 year old eldest son Edward safe in Wales.   

30 December 1460 - The Battle of Wakefield.

After years of stopping short of claiming the English Crown Richard, Duke of York in the summer of 1460 formally announced that he was the rightful King and that Henry VI was a usurper. He felt able to make this move because King Henry was his prisoner, he had been captured after defeat at the battle of Northampton and thus in his power.

However Henry's wife Queen Margaret was free and it was she who took up arms in her husband's name. The north of England was where she found most support, so a march on London was planned for the new year 1461. In response the Duke of York and his brother-in-law the Earl of Salisbury headed north spending Christmas at Sandal Castle near Wakefield unaware that a Lancastrian army was approaching. Under normal circumstances the Yorkists would have been safe in the castle, the Lancastrians led by the Duke of Somerset, were not equipped for a siege, but when the Duke of York saw the enemy approaching he gave the order to sally forth and take them on in open battle. It's likely that he underestimated Somerset's numbers, 15,000 to his 5500. 

The result was a near massacre; the Duke of York and his younger son were killed, the Earl of Salisbury captured and beheaded the next day. His mistake had cost him his life, the Yorkist claim now lay with his 18 year old eldest son Edward safe in Wales.  

 The War of the Roses?

Yes, put simply Richard II was forced to abdicate in 1399 by his cousin Henry, Duke of Lancaster (hence Lancastrians) but Henry wasn't the rightful heir, there were eight others ahead of him. Eventually the claim settled on Richard, Duke of York mentioned above (hence Yorkists).   

The Royal Navy lost three or four warships to accidental explosions in home waters in WW I.

31 December 1775 - American Attack on Quebec.

With his men's term of service about to end on New Year's Eve the American commander Gen. Richard Montgomery decided to launch an assault on Quebec in British Canada. Arriving outside the city in early December the Americans conducted a half-hearted siege with no success. Finally with less than 24 hours to go before many of his men would depart Montgomery and Col. Benedict Arnold with 950 men made a two-pronged assault against the city's defences.   

The defenders led by Gen. Sir Guy Carleton were ready. Early in the assault Gen. Montgomery was killed. Arnold had greater success, but he was wounded with command passing to Capt. Daniel Morgan whose indecision halted the attack giving the British time to surround the Americans who surrendered with 60 killed and wounded and over 400 taken prisoner. The British lost 18 killed and wounded. 

After spending the winter on Canadian soil the Americans withdrew in the spring never to return.  

31 December 1775 - American Attack on Quebec.

With his men's term of service about to end on New Year's Eve the American commander Gen. Richard Montgomery decided to launch an assault on Quebec in British Canada. Arriving outside the city in early December the Americans conducted a half-hearted siege with no success. Finally with less than 24 hours to go before many of his men would depart Montgomery and Col. Benedict Arnold with 950 men made a two-pronged assault against the city's defences.   

The defenders led by Gen. Sir Guy Carleton were ready. Early in the assault Gen. Montgomery was killed. Arnold had greater success, but he was wounded with command passing to Capt. Daniel Morgan whose indecision halted the attack giving the British time to surround the Americans who surrendered with 60 killed and wounded and over 400 taken prisoner. The British lost 18 killed and wounded. 

After spending the winter on Canadian soil the Americans withdrew in the spring never to return.  

Never to return, Mark? C'mon, I've been to Quebec many times & they have really good fishing up there. I like the locals because they hate everyone, even each other..................kinda like the Scots. 

For 2026 I'm going to do scientific and industrial themed anniversaries.