ON THIS DAY

73 YEARS AGO (1944)

Our front page reported how 35,000 retreating German troops had withdrawn to an area close to the heavily fortified Channel port of Cherbourg as US General Omar Bradley’s advancing 9th Division closed in.

39 YEARS AGO (1978)

A member of the public was killed in the crossfire between three would-be IRA bombers and British security forces at a post office depot in Belfast.

26 YEARS AGO (1991)

British Gas boss Robert Evans came under fire for pocketing a 66% pay rise, 10 times the rate of inflation. Labour accused him of “sheer unbridled greed” as his salary rose to £370,000 a year. The recently privatised firm had a monopoly in the gas market.