Moments in Time: British Tanks
The History Channel
On Sept. 15, 1916, British troops employed tanks for the first time in history, during an offensive against the Germans during the Battle of the Somme. While some were too slow to hold their positions during the German counterattack and were subject to mechanical failure, General Douglas Haig realized their potential and ordered the war department to produce hundreds more.
On Sept. 16, 1845, Phineas Wilcox was stabbed to death by fellow Mormons in Nauvoo, Illinois, on suspicion of being a Christian spy. The crime reflected the frequently violent conflict between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and surrounding communities.
On Sept. 17, 1967, British rock band The Who ended their nationally televised performance of their hit "My Generation" on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" with a literal bang from a blast of fireworks that Keith Moon had packed into his bass drum. Guitarist Pete Townshend's hair was badly singed, Moon's arm was hit with shrapnel and the show was momentarily knocked off the air, but everyone survived intact.
On Sept. 18, 1974, actress Doris Day won a $22.8 million malpractice suit against her former attorney. Day had allowed her third husband, Martin Melcher, to handle her finances, but following his death discovered that her $20 million in life savings had disappeared, and sued her lawyer for mismanagement.
On Sept. 19, 1959, during a trip to California, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev's famous temper displayed itself in his exasperated reaction to learning that he could not visit Disneyland, as he'd previously requested, due to government authorities fearing that the crowds would pose a safety hazard for him.
On Sept. 20, 1988, at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, American diver Greg Louganis won the gold medal on the springboard despite nearly knocking himself out during a qualifying round dive, becoming the first man to win back-to-back gold medals in both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform events.
On Sept. 21, 1996, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette married at the First African Baptist Church on Cumberland Island, Georgia. Because the wedding began late and the old building didn't have electricity, the priest conducted the ceremony with the aid of a flashlight.
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