410: Rome fell to a western group of the tribes known as the Visigoths.

1793: France introduced the first national conscription, claiming all unmarried men aged 18 to 25.

1873: The Albert Bridge across the Thames at Chelsea was opened.

1914: The Battle of Mons, in Belgium, began.

1926: Rudolf Valentino, the world's greatest screen lover, died in New York aged 31 from complications of ruptured appendix and gastric ulcer. Thousands of women lined his funeral route.

1938: Len Hutton scored what was then a world record Test score of 364 against Australia at The Oval.

1939: Germany and Russia signed a short-lived non-aggression pact which left Hitler free to attack Poland.

1940: The Blitz began as German bombers launched an all-night raid on London.

1960: Oscar Hammerstein II, American lyricist, died. Along with Richard Rodgers, he revolutionised musicals with Oklahoma, South Pacific, The King And I, and The Sound of music.

1987: French racing driver Didier Peroni was killed in a power boat race off the Isle of Wight.

LAST YEAR: Three British soldiers died in Iraq's second city Basra when the convoy they were travelling in was ambushed by gunmen.