18 June

18 June 1815 was the date of the Battle of Waterloo, (AUDIO: The Curse of Davros) a military conflict on Earth which resulted in the defeat of the reconstituted French imperial army of Napoléon Bonaparte by the British under the Duke of Wellington and the Prussians under Marshal Blucher. (PROSE: World Game) Wellington reflected on that particular day, telling the Doctor, "The only thing sadder than a battle lost is a battle won." (PROSE: The Eight Doctors)

An important battle in European history, Waterloo was subject to several alien incursions. The 18th of June therefore saw both the Players and Davros trying to reverse the outcome, and a consequent need for the Doctor's intervention. Both invasions were stopped by people surrounding the Doctor. In the case of the Player assault on the "rightful" outcome of 18 June, the Time Lord Serena took a fatal bullet for Wellington. Equally, Bonaparte himself deliberately lost the battle so as to stop the proliferation of Dalek weapons amongst his army, and thereby thwarted Davros' plans to take of the Earth. (PROSE: World Game; AUDIO: ''The Curse of Davros)

Away from this most famous of 18 Junes, 1945's 18 June was the birthday of Lucia Moretti, an Italian Torchwood agent and a lover of Jack Harkness. (TV: ''Children of Earth: Day Three)

Behind the scenes

 * 1901 - Actor Llewellyn Rees was born.
 * 1938 - Actor Michael Sheard was born.
 * 1942 - Musician Paul McCartney was born.
 * 1946 - Actor Luan Peters was born.
 * 1948 - Actor Phillip Jackson was born.
 * 1953 - Actress Cordelia Ditton was born.
 * 1956 - Actress Dominic Guard was born.
 * 1966 - Episode four of The Savages was first broadcast on BBC1.
 * 1973 - Actor Roger Delgado died.
 * 1991 - Actor Ronald Allen died.
 * 1992 - Actress Harriet Reynolds died.
 * 1999 - Actress Aimée Delamain died.
 * 2000 - Actor Derek Sydney and actor John Caesar died.
 * 2004 - Actor Frederick Jaeger died.
 * 2005 - The Parting of the Ways was first broadcast on BBC One.