1917 – The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was established through Royal Charter to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth military forces.

1932 – American Amelia Earhart landed in Derry, Ireland, after taking off from Newfoundland the previous day. It was the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by a female pilot.

1946 – A world wheat shortage led to bread rationing in Britain.

1950 – Two people died and more were injured as violent storms and a tornado swept through counties around London.

1958 – It was announced that automated telephone connection, making calls easier and cheaper, would be introduced in December.

1965 – The death, aged 82, of Geoffrey de Havilland, British aircraft designer.

1966 – American boxer Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) ended the hopes of British heavyweight champion Henry Cooper winning the world heavyweight titles when the bout was stopped in Round 6 because of a severe cut above Cooper’s eye.

1996 – After the failure of EU representatives to take steps to ease the ban on British beef, John Major announced that the British government would adopt a policy of non co-operation with the EU.

1997 – The British government announced a complete ban on anti-personnel landmines.

2015 – At 8:00 am about 50 small boats that were involved in the evacuation of allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in World War Two set sail from Ramsgate to mark the 75th anniversary of the rescue. The Dunkirk evacuation, codenamed ‘Operation Dynamo’ took place between 26th May and 4th June 1940 and saw hundreds of wooden fishing boats, pleasure yachts and lifeboats rescue 338,000 troops after they retreated from Nazi forces.