On This Day

Although maybe not something I think of everyday, I do sometimes wonder: What happened on this date last year....or 5 years ago.....or 50 years ago? The BBC has a site -- On This Day -- that can answer some of those questions, at least as viewed from that side of the Atlantic. One perhaps uncommon aspect of this site is that it includes historical information but also broadcasts, pictures, and other media as it tells the story of the day.

The following is their "About This Site" info to help explain its purpose and scope:

On This Day is a showcase of some of the most significant as well as some of the quirkier stories broadcast by BBC News since 1950 and now including a new World War II section.

We intend to continue adding stories over the coming years so you will always be able to find something fresh on the site.

You will probably enter the site via the front page. This will always be today’s date and will offer a choice of reports drawn from the years 1950-2002 and 1939-45.

Nearly all the stories contain video or audio and are written as if the event had only just occurred, drawing on archive media, old newspapers and historical reference books.

All news reports finish with an "In Context" box. This gives a brief rundown on what happened next and could also reveal details such as what became of personalities who featured in a story long before they became household names.

The timelines are intended to show you where you are within a long-running story and provide links to other related reports.

There are several ways to look round the site - you can search by date, as well as by theme and by correspondent. (Ever wondered what John Humphrys looked like before he began all those early shifts on Radio 4’s Today programme? Take a look at his timeline to find out.)

The Witness section of the site is where you come in! Maybe you can spot yourself in the crowd in one of the old videos featured in the site, or you were at an event featured in a news report. We would like to hear from you so please email us using the form in the Witness section.

While the BBC owns the copyright to nearly all the media on the site, some material has been licensed from other broadcasters as is normal in the world of TV news.