Previously on this day

More than sixty million Americans watched the first ever televised debate between two candidates running for Presidency.
In total, Republican candidate Vice President Richard Nixon and Senator John F Kennedy, the Democratic candidate, went on to appearing four debates. During this first debate each candidate was given eight minutes to give an opening speech, prior to the start of a series of questions from reporters, prior to each giving a final statement. Richard Nixon went on to become President of the United States of America in 1969. It was not until 1976 when the next televised debate was screened.

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On the 23rd of September 2000, British Rower Sir Steve Redgrave entered Olympic History by winning his fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. He won his final medal alongside team mates Matthew Pinsent, Tim foster and James Cracknell in the second week of the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
It was a nail biting race which saw the mainly British crowd celebrate as their crew crossed the finish line only half a second ahead of the Italians.
Sir Steve retired from International rowing later the same year in October.
More recently he had been involved with supporting the bid for the London 2012 Olympics.

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In 1940, on 7th September the German air force carried out a large number of bombing raids on London killing hundreds of civilians and injuring many others. The first raids occurred during the afternoon, and were predominantly focused on the more densely populated area of the East End near the London Docks. Approximately three hundred bombers attacked the city for more than an hour an a half. As darkness approached apparently the fires could be seen over ten miles away. The bombing continued into the night for another 8 hours, with bombs continuing to fall so close together there was hardly any pause between them and of course the noise was deafening as the city was shaken from the attack.

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Due to the invasion of Poland by the German troops on this day back in 1939, both British and French forces were preparing to go to war with Germany for the second time in a century.

It was just before dawn when approx 1.5 million troops crossed into Polish territory. Shortly afterwards planes were bombarding the cities, including the capital Warsaw, as the Germans made very swift progress.
The invasion of Poland by Germany resulted in the start World War 2, which lasted a total of 6 years, ending in 1945.

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