This Day in History: 1920-12-29

From the Regimental History account of 1st Battalion operations in Persia: ‘Our fourth Christmas Day on service passed quietly though in considerable discomfort. On December 29th Captain Bucknall with three platoons, finding the enemy had reoccupied the Naglebar Ridge attacked them though they were in superior strength, routing them with much loss and capturing a Russian officer and a few men. Bucknall, who distinguished himself here, was wounded in the arm early in the fight but continued to lead his men while Havildar Mitralal Thapa captured a machine-gun single handedly, killing three of its team. The gun now stands as an honoured trophy of the 1st Battalion Quarter Guard at Dehra Dun’.