A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 23 August
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 23 August?
- 1775 King George III issued a proclamation that declared elements of the American…
- 1782 British forces under Edward Despard complete the reconquest of the Black River…
- 1873 The Albert Bridge, spanning the River Thames in London, opened to traffic
- 1898 The Southern Cross Expedition, the first British venture of the Heroic Age of…
- 1914 In their first major action of the First World War, the British Expeditionary…
- 1914 World War I: The British Expeditionary Force and the French Fifth Army begin…
- 1946 Ordinance No. 46 of the British Military Government constitutes the German…
- 1974 Born: Konstantin Novoselov
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1775 | King George III issued a proclamation that declared elements of the American… | 2026 − 1775 = | |
| 1873 | The Albert Bridge, spanning the River Thames in London, opened to traffic | 2026 − 1873 = | |
| 1914 | In their first major action of the First World War, the British Expeditionary… | 2026 − 1914 = | |
| 1946 | Ordinance No. 46 of the British Military Government constitutes the German… | 2026 − 1946 = |
3. Put them in order
Write 1 next to the oldest event, then 2, 3 and so on up to the newest. Use list 1 to help you!
- King George III issued a proclamation that declared elements of the American…
- The Albert Bridge, spanning the River Thames in London, opened to traffic
- British forces under Edward Despard complete the reconquest of the Black River…
- The Southern Cross Expedition, the first British venture of the Heroic Age of…
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “King George III issued a proclamation that declared elements of the American”?
- A. 1775
- B. 1849
- C. 1914
In which year did this happen: “The Albert Bridge, spanning the River Thames in London, opened to traffic”?
- A. 1873
- B. 1782
- C. 1914
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Southern Cross Expedition, the first British venture of the Heroic Age of
- B. The Albert Bridge, spanning the River Thames in London, opened to traffic
- C. King George III issued a proclamation that declared elements of the American
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 23 August. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1775 → 251 years; 1873 → 153 years; 1914 → 112 years; 1946 → 80 years.
Order: 1 = King George III issued a proclamation that declared elements of the American… (1775), 2 = British forces under Edward Despard complete the reconquest of the Black River… (1782), 3 = The Albert Bridge, spanning the River Thames in London, opened to traffic (1873), 4 = The Southern Cross Expedition, the first British venture of the Heroic Age of… (1898).
Quiz: 1. A (1775); 2. A (1873); 3. C (King George III issued a proclamation that declared elements of the American).