First tank produced

September 6, 1915

ON this day, a prototype tank nicknamed Little Willie drives on the assembly line in England. Little Willie weighed 14 tonnes, got stuck in trenches and crawled over rough terrain at only two miles per hour. However, improvements were made to the original prototype and tanks eventually transformed military battlefields.

Elton John performs at Princess Diana’s funeral

September 6, 1997

ON this day, at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, Pop legend Elton John gave a heart rendering performance of Candle in the Wind, his 1973 Marilyn Monroe tribute rewritten in honour of the deceased princess, however, the version of Candle in the Wind for Lady Diana’s funeral included entirely new lyrics.

Congress renames the nation “Unitied States of America”

September 9, 1776

THIS day, the Continental Congress formally declares the name of the new nation to be the “United States” of America. This replaced the term “United Colonies,” which had been in general use.

The delegates wrote in the Congressional declaration, “That in all continental commissions, and other instruments, where, heretofore, the words ‘United Colonies’ have been used, the stile be altered for the future to the “United States.”