- 1492 12 Oct Christopher Columbus lands in the Bahamas and is credited as the first European to reach the Americas.
- 1899 12 Oct Boer forces invade Natal and Cape Colony, South Africa, igniting the Second Boer War with Britain.
- 1915 12 Oct British nurse Edith Cavell is shot by the Germans for aiding the escape of Allied prisoners of war.
World War One Centenary
- Find out more about how the BBC is covering the World War One Centenary, and see the latest programmes and online content
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