In 1899, white Afrikaner settlers went to war against the British empire in South Africa. Tens of thousands died during the three year conflict, mostly from disease. Using BBC archive recordings, we tell the story of the Boer War.

(Photo: British soldiers crossing a river during the Boer War - circa 1900. Credit: Fox Photos/Getty Images)

In October 1942 Norwegian commandos began a series of raids on a heavy water plant in German-occupied Norway. They had to destroy it in order to stop the Nazis from developing an atomic weapon. Joachim Ronneberg is the last surviving member of the Norwegian team.

(Photo: The hydro-electric power station where the heavy water plant was situated. Credit: Hulton Archives/Getty Images)

In 1985 a benefit concert was held for farmers living in the world's richest country, the USA. The money went toward preventing suicides and helping farmers keep their land. Witness speaks to the main organiser, the Country music legend Willie Nelson.

(Photo: Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings by Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve, Inc)

On 1 October 1964, the fastest train the world had ever seen was launched in Japan. The first Shinkansen, or bullet train, ran between Tokyo and Osaka, and had a top speed of 210km per hour. Witness speaks to Isao Makibayashi, one of the train's first drivers.

(Photo: Shinkansen, or bullet train. Credit: Keystone/Getty Images)

In 1989, Denmark became the first country to celebrate same-sex civil unions. Witness has been speaking to Ivan Larsen and Ove Carlsen, who were one of the first couples to sign on the dotted line.

On 30 September 1955 the Hollywood actor, James Dean, crashed his car and died. Listen to three people who remember his death well - Otie Hunter, the policeman who booked him for speeding earlier that day, Carroll Baker who acted alongside him in his final film, and his cousin Marcus Winslow.

(Photo: James Dean. Credit: Associated Press)

In September 1996 the Taliban took over the Afghan capital Kabul. One of their first acts was to kill the country's former communist president Dr Najibullah. Witness has spoken to two people who were in Kabul that day.

(Photo: A Taliban gunner on the frontline, 30 kms from Kabul. Credit: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)

In 2002 the 'Joola' ferry sank off Senegal with the loss of more than 1800 lives. It was Africa's worst maritime disaster. We hear from Jean Diedhiou, one of the few survivors, and his desperate struggle to survive.

Photo of the upturned ferry before it completely sank, AFP/Gettyimages

In September 1998 five Cuban spies were arrested in Miami by the FBI. After a controversial trial, they were given lengthy jail sentences. Three of them are still in American prisons. Witness speaks to one of the Cubans, Rene Gonzalez, who was released in 2011.

(Photo: Portraits of the Cuban Five. Credit: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)

In September 1994 a new show called Friends hit American TV screens. It was based on the lives of six 20-something New Yorkers and became one of the most successful comedies of all time, syndicated around the world. Witness has been speaking to one of the shows creators, Kevin Bright.