π Historyπ₯ Toplijstπ³ 27 votes
Which British historical defeat stings the most, even centuries later?
Britain loves a plucky underdog story, but some losses still leave a bitter taste. Rank these national gut-punches from most painful to most 'we'll get over it'.
Put the items in your preferred order.
A
Loss of the American Colonies (1783)
We taxed their tea and lost a continent. Arguably the most expensive customer complaint in history.
B
Battle of Hastings (1066)
Harold copped it, William conquered it, and the English language was never the same. Still smarts a millennium on.
C
Fall of Singapore (1942)
80,000 troops surrendered to a smaller Japanese force in what shattered the myth of British imperial invincibility.
D
Suez Crisis (1956)
Britain marched into Egypt and was promptly marched out by the Americans. The moment we stopped being a superpower.
E
1966 World Cup... wait, we won that
Fine, swap it for every Euros and World Cup heartbreak from Italia '90 to the present. Football's perpetual coming home, then leaving again.
Drag the photo to reorder
